Grain grading modernization

Summary

In 2017, the Canadian Grain Commission began a review of the Canadian grain grading system as part of its commitment to continuous improvement.

Grain grades and specifications continue to be important components of Canada’s grain grading system. This review will ensure that

  • grain grades are evaluated using effective, precise and user friendly tools
  • the grain grading system responds to the needs of Canada’s grain sector, including producers, processors, exporters and buyers of Canadian grain

What we’re doing

As part of the review process, we are assessing the following elements of the grading system.

  • commercial cleanliness – complete
  • decimal precision of grading factors – complete
  • Fusarium damage and end-use functionality – complete
  • guidance documents and work procedures – complete
  • grading factors – in progress
  • modernize the Official Grain Grading Guide – in progress
  • standard and guide samples – in progress

How potential changes are evaluated

Any refinements made as a result of the review will be considered carefully and supported by scientific research. Changes to the grain grading system will be made based on recommendations from the Eastern Standards Committee and the Western Standards Committee. Each committee includes:

  • grain producers
  • grain handlers
  • grain inspectors
  • processors
  • exporters
  • scientists

Changes so far

  • Decimal precision of grading factors

    We’ve reviewed the consistency of grading factor decimal precision in the Official Grain Grading Guide. We’ve aligned grading factors and changed tolerances (where necessary) to use the same decimal precision in the grade determinants tables. The Official Grain Grading Guide was updated to reflect these changes on February 13, 2019.

  • Commercial cleanliness

    We’ve discovered that approximately 75% of non-conformances that occur during vessel loading are due to overages in the individual small seeds and roughage components, even though the total small seeds, roughage and attrition is within tolerance.

    The individual tolerance for both small seeds and roughage in commercially clean wheat was increased from 0.05% to 0.1%. The combined tolerance for total small seeds, attrition and roughage will remain the same at 0.1%. This adjustment took effect on February 13, 2019.

  • Standard and guide samples

    Western Canada

    • Individual standard samples for frost/heat stress and mildew replaced the previous combined standard samples as the assessment tools for these grading factors in all classes of western Canadian wheat on August 1, 2018.
    • The frost/heat stress standards samples for No. 2 and No. 3 CWRS were revised on November 26, 2018, after we conducted research on end-use functionality.
    • New standard prints, with further adjustments for assessing frost, replaced all physical standard samples for frost/heat stress on August 1, 2021. Frost standard prints will be a more readily available and a consistent grading tool for the grain industry.
    • Building on previous research that shows the effect on mildew on end-use functionality is limited, mildew standards were revised on August 1, 2022. For most classes of wheat, samples will be graded no lower than No. 3 on account of mildew. For CPSR, CPSW and CWES, samples will be graded no lower than No. 2 on account of mildew.

    Eastern Canada

    • The guides used to assess mildew in Eastern wheat classes were renamed as standards on July 1, 2018.
    • Mildew standards used for CERS were aligned with the standards for CWRS, effective July 1, 2022. For CERS, samples will be graded no lower than No. 3 on account of mildew.
  • Guidance documents and work procedures

    We’ve reviewed the various tools used to communicate our directives and procedures with stakeholders to ensure consistency, clarity and efficiency. These included work instructions and procedures or trade memos to the Canadian agriculture industry relating to grain inspection, grain handling and grain exports.

    The goal was to eliminate conflicting information and establish faster turnaround times from our regional and headquarters employees for processing clients’ requests for services and documentation approval.

  • Grading factors

    Fusarium damage and end-use functionality

    We’ve reviewed the purpose and validity of the Fusarium damage grading factor, which was established and defined before testing directly for deoxynivalenol (DON) became more efficient and less expensive. Our Grain Research Laboratory verified and tested the impact of this factor on end-use functionality. As a result, we’ve completed a re-evaluation of the factor definition, tolerance and purpose.

    The study concluded the current Fusarium definition, visual assessment and tolerances are effective in ensuring grain safety and meeting customers’ end-use functionality needs.

    Severely sprouted tolerances

    We’ve completed our research on the impacts of the severely sprouted tolerance grading factor in western classes of wheat. As a result, we updated the definition of severely sprouted in the Official Grain Grading Guide, effective August 1, 2023.

Changes we’re working on

If you think you have appropriate samples for any of the research below where we have not yet received enough material to complete our research, please contact us at QAStandards-NormesAQ@grainscanada.gc.ca. We’re looking for samples of:

  • CWAD wheat with frost or mildew damage
  • sprout-damaged eastern wheat
  • green-damaged soybeans
  • copper-damaged red lentils
  • Standard and guide samples

    We’re continuing our research on the effects of mildew and frost damage on end-use functionality. We’ve been unable to secure enough samples of the following to complete this research:

    • frost damage in CWAD
    • mildew damage in CWAD
  • Grading factors

    If you have concerns regarding a specific grading factor, we encourage you to reach out to our grain standards advisory committee members to bring forward at their next meetings.

    Sprouted tolerance in eastern wheat

    We’re conducting new research on the sprouted tolerance for CESRW wheat. Our research began in 2021, but the results were inconclusive, and we’ve been unable to secure enough samples to complete this research.

    Wheats of other classes or varieties and contrasting classes in CWRS and CWAD

    We’ve completed research on wheats of other classes or varieties that blend with CWRS and CWAD. Research on contrasting classes is expected to be completed in the summer of 2023.

    Green damage in soybeans

    We’re continuing our research on the effects of green damage in soybeans. We’ve been unable to secure enough samples to complete this research.

    Copper damage in red lentils

    We’re continuing our research on the effects of copper damage in red lentils. We’ve been unable to secure enough samples to complete this research.

    Modernize the Official Grain Grading Guide

    The Official Grain Grading Guide is updated annually to include photos of grain grading factors that provide clarity for inspectors and stakeholders.

  • Modernize the Official Grain Grading Guide

    The Official Grain Grading Guide is updated annually to include photos of grain grading factors that provide clarity for inspectors and stakeholders.

Next steps

We continue to ensure our grading standards are science based and appropriate for the degrading factor they represent.

We’re engaging with the industry and evaluating possible refinements to Canada’s grain grading system. As the review progresses, we will provide updates about any changes that result.

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