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Farmers conflicted on falling number as grade factor

The Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) and Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC) have advocated for adding falling number (FN) as a grading factor in the past, but now both groups say they need more information to ensure farmers would be better off before endorsing the change. “The (Grain and Oilseeds) committee has expressed concern with the lack

Should falling number and DON be grading factors?

Should falling number and DON be grading factors?

Expensive machines would replace visual assessments of sprout and fusarium damage

Should falling number and deoxynivalenol (DON) be official grain-grading factors? The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) is asking the grain industry for opinions before May 10. Both factors are included now, but through visual proxies — sprout damage for falling number and fusarium-damaged kernels for DON. They aren’t as accurate as machine measurements, but they are


Falling number can be obtained free of charge from the Canadian Grain Commission through its harvest sample program until Dec. 31 if you’re registered for the program. (Canadian Grain Commission photo)

Grain grading revamp may add falling number, DON as factors

Two significant grain specs that aren’t yet factors for a crop’s official grade are now under consideration to join that official list. The Canadian Grain Commission on Monday put out a call for “grain sector stakeholders” to submit their views before May 10 on a proposal for falling number and deoxynivalenol (DON) to both become

Canada’s variety registration and grading system focuses on delivering a high-quality and consistent product end-users can trust, says NFU vice-president Cam Goff.

NFU fears grain-grading system to be sacrificed under NAFTA

Cereals Canada says a deal can be reached to satisfy both Canada and the U.S.

Is Canada’s wheat quality assurance system under threat in the current NAFTA talks? The National Farmers Union says Canada needs to be on guard against U.S. efforts to destroy it. “Canada’s grain-grading system is the key to our international competitiveness, particularly for wheat,” Terry Boehm, chair of the NFU’s trade committee, said in a news

Green soybean seed is downgrading some crops this fall.

Same sample, different grades for green seed soybeans

Farmers might want to shop around or get an official CGC grade

Farmers with green seeds in their soybeans should consider shopping their crop around to get the best grade, or get an official grade from the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC). The percentage of green seed in soybean the same samples sometimes vary widely between buyers, an industry official said Sept. 13. In one case three different


Canadian Grain Commission inspection specialist Usman Mohammad demonstrating one of several CGC-approved sieves used to determine canola dockage during a grading school in Brandon Dec. 7.

Canola dockage tips from CGC grading school

During the dockage assessment process canola should be cleaned so farmers get the best possible grade

Here’s a tip for canola growers about dockage, conspicuous admixture and grades — pay attention to the sieves. If your canola is downgraded due to conspicuous admixture, or if you feel your dockage is too high, check with the buyer about what sieves were used to determine dockage — material that isn’t canola and buyers

Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) inspection specialist Usman Mohammad demonstrates how inspectors use CGC grade standard samples to assist in grading grain consistently.  PHOTOs: ALLAN DAWSON


Subjective? Not exactly

Western Canada’s wheat-grading system is probably more objective than you think

For 40 years Western Canada’s grain industry has dreamed about the black box — an affordable machine that would take a handful of wheat and quickly and accurately spit out its end-use quality on the elevator driveway. Like flying cars and cellulosic ethanol, it’s just around the corner, but never arrives. The black box is

Canadian Grain Commission grain inspection experts Chris Fleury (seen here) and Usman Mohammad spoke about ways the CGC can help farmers know the quality of their grain before they start selling it during a grain-grading school Dec. 7 in Brandon.

When selling your grain, knowledge is power

Canadian Grain Commission experts shared their insights at a ‘grading school’ in Brandon

When selling grain ‘forewarned is forearmed,” and the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) can help farmers with that. “We really encourage you to know what you have before you start delivering so you know if you’re getting a fair deal there (at the elevator) or not,” Chris Fleury, a CGC inspection trainer told farmers attending a


Randy Dennis (l), the former chief grain inspector for Canada, demonstrates the ins and outs of grain grading at a workshop. The Canadian Grain Commission is reviewing the grading system. While some groups want to switch to instrument-measured specifications, others warn that could create problems.

Grain commission launches major grain grading system review

Views vary within the grain industry about what should stay, what should 
go and who’ll pay any extra costs

The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) is conducting a major review of grain grading. That’s prompting calls by some for specifications to replace grades, while others say they’ll consider changes if they don’t undermine the current system or cost too much. Read more: Column roils wheat grading controversy Read more: Grading system needed to ensure proper compensation

Stand up for our grain grading system

Stand up for our grain grading system

It would be a mistake to alter the Canadian Grain Act to allow U.S. grain to enter our system

In 2014, a longtime advocate for grain trade deregulation and a former researcher for the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association was quoted in the ag press as saying, “I don’t remember one serious conversation about market power and the dangers it imposed.” Apparently that conversation still hasn’t happened for the farmers who are lobbying to