Eastern Grain Standards Committee recommendations from November 6, 2007

Standard samples

The Eastern Standards Committee (ESC) recommended the following new standard samples for the 2007-08 crop year:

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

Standard samples previously adopted for other grades and grains will continue to be used.

Grading studies and projects

The ESC received the following updates.

Chlorophyll assessment using near infrared reflectance (NIR) spectroscopy

The Canadian Grain Commission is continuing its work on using NIR technology to assess chlorophyll in canola. The study is evaluating the DICKEY-john Instalab ® 600, an NIR instrument. Chlorophyll assessment would replace the current practice of crushing seeds and assessing distinctly green.

Falling number as a grading factor for western Canadian wheat

The Canadian Grain Commission reported to the ESC that it has put 15 rapid visco-analyzers in its inspection offices across the country to measure falling number in wheat samples and to determine variability of results for wheat deliveries at primary elevators and at unload at the ports.

The Canadian Grain Commission was not able to provide results from the 2007 harvest because sprout damage has not been a significant problem this year, resulting in few samples of sprout-damaged wheat for the study.

Purchasing grain on a dry matter basis

The ESC decided that purchasing grain on a dry matter basis was a commercial issue, not a grading issue. The ESC made no recommendations related to the issue.

Western malting barley standards

As a result of work done with the malting barley industry in western Canada, the Canadian Grain Commission will present a new grade schedule for malting barley to the ESC for recommendation at the spring meeting. The new schedule will incorporate a single grade and be called Select Malt Barley.

Main grading factors in the 2007 harvest

Canadian Grain Commission inspection specialists identified main grading factors in 2007 by grading samples from the Canadian Grain Commission’s Harvest Survey. Factors considered prevalent are those that appear most often in samples graded No. 2, 3 or lower. Other grading factors may also be involved when samples are degraded.

These highlights are based on grading results on Harvest Survey samples as of November 1, 2007.

Ontario wheat crop

• Canada Eastern Red Spring wheat
  • Mildew
  • Black point
• Canada Eastern Hard Red Winter wheat
  • Mildew
  • Black point
• Canada Eastern Soft Red Winter wheat
  • Mildew
• Canada Eastern White Winter wheat
  • Mildew
  • Contrasting classes

Quebec wheat crop

• Canada Eastern Red Spring wheat
  • Fusarium-damaged kernels
  • Mildew
  • Ergot
• Canada Eastern Hard Red Winter wheat
  • Mildew
  • Green and immature
  • Fusarium-damaged kernels

New test weight conversion chart for hulless barley for 2008-09 crop year

• The Canadian Grain Commission has developed a new regression formula specifically for hulless barley.
• The current equation for hulled barley remains in use.
• The conversion of grams per half-litre to kilograms per hectolitre will produce lower values for hulless barley.
• Example:
  • Current chart: 360grams/0.5 litre (g/0.5 l) converts to 75.0 kg/hl.
  • On July 1, 2008: 360g/0.5 l will convert to 73.5 kg/hl.

Reports

The Canadian Grain Commission informed ESC members that at the committee’s meeting next spring, it will bring forward specifications for Canada General Purpose wheat for recommendation by the ESC. The class will be introduced on July 1, 2008 in eastern Canada and on August 1, 2008 in western Canada. Norm Woodbeck, manager, Quality Assurance Standards and Reinspection, provided the committee a draft grade schedule for the new class. The Canadian Grain Commission is consulting with the industry on the development of specifications for this class. He also explained how the removal of kernel visual distinguishability, a variety identification tool and registration requirement for western Canadian wheat, will affect the wheat grading system.