Grain quality

Official Grain Grading Guide

The Official Grain Grading Guide is a complete reference on the grading of grains, oilseeds and pulses.

Grain grading

In Canada, grain grades are a tool used to define the quality of grain.

• Grading factors
  • Grading factors for Canadian wheat
  • Fusarium head blight in western Canada
  • Identifying wheat and barley seed affected by fusarium head blight
  • Ergot’s effect on wheat grades
  • Determine moisture content for Canadian grains
  • Visual identification of small oilseeds and weed seed contaminants
  • Test weight for Canadian grains
• Setting and changing grades
  • Eastern Standards Committee
  • Western Standards Committee
  • Grain grading modernization
• Canadian wheat classes
• Standard samples as a grain grading tool
• Technology transfer template

Variety designation lists

The Canadian Grain Commission maintains variety designation lists for Canadian wheat, barley and flaxseed.

Manage stored grain

Resources on prevention, monitoring, control, and remedial strategies for keeping stored grain at peak condition, reducing the potential of insect infestations.

• Identify an insect
  • Primary insect pests
    • Larger grain borer
    • Lesser grain borer
    • Bean weevil
    • Pea weevil
    • Southern cowpea weevil
    • Granary weevil
    • Rice weevil
    • Maize weevil
    • Khapra beetle
    • Rusty grain beetle
    • Flat grain beetle
    • Flour mill beetle
    • Merchant grain beetle
    • Sawtoothed grain beetle
    • Longheaded flour beetle
    • Red flour beetle
    • Confused flour beetle
    • Large flour beetle
    • Cadelle
    • Angoumois grain moth
  • Secondary insect pests
  • Eight common insect pests
  • Insect pest biology
  • Glossary of insect terminology
• Insect identification keys
  • Stored product beetles found in Canada
  • Stored grain pests found in Canada
• Control grain insect pests
  • Inscticides
  • Physical
• Manage storage to prevent infestations
  • Prepare grain bins
  • Monitor grain temperature and aerate grain
  • Monitoring stored grain for insect pest infestations
  • Prevent spoilage
  • Prevent infestations in stored grain
• Guides on managing stored grain
  • Protection of farm-stored grains, oilseeds and pulses from insects, mites and moulds
  • Spoilage and heating of stored agricultural products

Harvest Sample Program

The Harvest Sample Program is a voluntary program for Canadian grain producers. If you sign up, you will receive a harvest sample kit annually that contains envelopes for sending in samples of your crop.

• Sign up to get your kit
• Submit your samples
• Get your results
• How we use your samples

Sampling grain

Proper sampling techniques help make sure your grain is graded based on an accurate sample.

• Guide to Taking a Representative Sample
• Sampling systems handbook and approval guide
• Accredited and certified container sampling programs
  • Accredited container sampler program
  • Certified container sampling program
  • Accreditation of third-party audit companies for grain sampling systems
  • Extension of accredited and certified container sampling programs to flaxseed shipments

Services

The Canadian Grain Commission offers a variety of services as part of its mandate under the Canada Grain Act.

• Fees
  • Analytical testing services
  • Information regarding fee calculation
• Service standards