Canadian wheat classes

Canadian wheat varieties are grouped by their functional characteristics. For example, varieties in the Canada Prairie Spring Red class have medium hard kernels and medium dough strength. Canadian wheat classes are categorized as Western Canadian and Eastern Canadian by the regions in which the varieties are grown.

Find varieties by class

Check if your variety of wheat is designated to a Canadian class. The variety designation lists help producers and grain handlers identify which varieties are eligible for the top grades of each class.

Western Canadian wheat classes

Kernels from each of the nine milling classes of western Canadian wheat — **Sample kernels from each of the 9 milling classes of western Canadian wheat**

Characteristics and end uses of the 9 milling classes of western Canadian wheat
Class	Characteristics	End uses
Canada Northern Hard Red (CNHR)	Red spring wheat Medium to hard kernels Very good milling quality Medium gluten strength 3 milling grades	Hearth breads, flat breads, steamed breads, noodles
Canada Prairie Spring Red (CPSR)	Red spring wheat Medium hard kernels Medium dough strength 2 milling grades	Hearth breads, flat breads, steamed breads, noodles
Canada Prairie Spring White (CPSW)	White spring wheat Medium dough strength 2 milling grades	Flat breads, noodles, chapatis
Canada Western Amber Durum (CWAD)	Durum wheat High yield of semolina Excellent pasta-making quality 4 milling grades	Semolina for pasta Couscous
Canada Western Extra Strong (CWES)	Hard red spring wheat Extra strong gluten 2 milling grades	Ideal for blending Specialty products that need high gluten strength
Canada Western Hard White Spring (CWHWS)	Hard white spring wheat Superior milling quality producing flour with excellent colour 3 milling grades	Bread and noodle production
Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS)	Hard red spring wheat Superior milling and baking quality 3 milling grades Various guaranteed protein levels	High volume pan bread Alone or in blends with other wheat for hearth bread, steamed bread, noodles, flat bread, common wheat pasta
Canada Western Red Winter (CWRW)	Hard red winter wheat Very good milling quality 3 milling grades	French breads, flat breads, steamed breads, noodles
Canada Western Soft White Spring (CWSWS)	Soft white spring wheat Low protein content 3 milling grades	Cookies, cakes, pastry, flat breads, noodles, steamed breads, chapatis

Canada Western Special Purpose wheat class

Varieties registered as Canada Western Special Purpose are not required to meet the strict quality requirements of milling classes. Generally, varieties in this class are not appropriate for milling because of their high starch and low protein content, which affects end-use characteristics of the grain.

Varieties in the Canada Western Special Purpose wheat class are typically high-yielding. Due to the combination of high starch and low protein, they are most suitable for uses such as ethanol product or animal feed.

Varieties within this class may look similar to varieties within other classes of wheat.

Eastern Canadian wheat classes

Characteristics and end uses of the 5 milling classes of eastern Canadian wheat
Class	Characteristics	End uses
Canada Eastern Red Spring (CERS)	Hard red spring wheat Superior milling and baking quality 3 milling grades	High volume pan bread Alone or in blends with other wheat for hearth bread, steamed bread, noodles, flat bread, common wheat pasta
Canada Eastern Hard Red Winter (CEHRW)	Hard red winter wheat Good milling quality 3 milling grades	French breads, flat breads, steamed breads, noodles
Canada Eastern Soft Red Winter (CESRW)	Soft red winter wheat Low protein	Cakes, pastry, cereal, crackers, biscuits and filling
Canada Eastern Amber Durum (CEAD)	Durum wheat High yield of semolina Excellent pasta-making quality 3 milling grades	Semolina for pasta couscous
Canada Eastern White Winter (CEWW)	Soft white winter wheat Low protein	Cakes, pastry, cereal, crackers, biscuits and filling
Canada Eastern Feed (CE Feed)	Any class or variety of wheat (amber durum is not eligible for this class)	Feed

Canada Eastern Other Wheat class

Varieties registered as Canada Eastern Other Wheat are not required to meet the strict quality requirements of milling classes. Generally, varieties in this class will be grown under contract and will meet the specifications for unique markets.

Varieties in the Canada Eastern Other Wheat class can have end-use functionalities that do not meet the class characteristics for the other wheat classes. Varieties within this class may look similar to varieties within other classes of wheat.

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Date modified:: 2019-08-23

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