Eastern Grain Standards Committee recommendations from November 2, 2006

At its meeting on Nov. 2, 2006, the Eastern Standards Committee (ESC) recommended new standard samples for the following grades for the 2006-07 crop year:

Standards

• Peas, No. 1 Canada Yellow
• Pea Beans, Canada (Good natural colour)
• Pea Beans, Canada (Reasonably good colour)
• Pea Beans, Canada (Fairly good colour)

Mildew guides

• Wheat, No. 1 Canada Eastern Red (Red Spring)
• Wheat, No. 2 Canada Eastern Red (Red Spring)
• Wheat, No. 3 Canada Eastern Red (Red Spring)

Standard and guide samples are used as visual references by both Canadian Grain Commission and grain industry inspectors. A standard or guide sample is a sample of grain that represents the minimum visual quality for a grade of grain.

Standard and guide samples take into account specific grading factors that are influenced by environmental growing conditions.

The ESC reviews and recommends standard samples. The Canadian Grain Commission then designates the standard samples for the crop year. Standard samples previously adopted for other grades and grains will continue to be used.

Grading studies and projects

The ESC recommended continuation and adoption of the following studies and projects. Reports and recommendations from the studies will be presented to the ESC at its spring 2007 meeting.

Eastern Fusarium/DON study

The ESC members supported the continuation of a study by the GRL to evaluate the relationship between the percentage of fusarium-damaged kernels and values for deoxynivalenol, a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium graminearum. The GRL will report on the study at the spring 2007 meeting.

Eastern mildew study

The ESC members requested the Canadian Grain Commission's GRL research the quality parameters associated with mildew in wheat, starting with soft red winter and hard red winter wheat classes. The GRL will provide results of the research at the spring 2007 meeting.