Faba beans: Determination of dockage

Definitions

Dockage is not assessed on faba bean samples that meet the commercially clean specifications set out in the Faba bean Export Shipments section. All samples must be analyzed to determine if they meet commercial cleanliness standards prior to dockage being assessed. The analysis of samples which are clearly not commercially clean may consist of a visual assessment. For example, if there is no doubt that a sample contains more than 0.2% of foreign material then dockage will be assessed using the procedures defined under Determination of Dockage. Where there is any doubt regarding whether the sample is commercially clean the sample must be analyzed. Dockage is assessed and recorded to the nearest 0.1%.

Dockage is defined under the Canada Grain Act as “any material intermixed with a parcel of grain, other than kernels of grain of a standard of quality fixed by or under this Act for a grade of that grain, that must and can be separated from the parcel of grain before that grade can be assigned to the grain”. Dockage is removed by following the cleaning procedures described in this section of the guide.

The sample as it arrives is referred to as the uncleaned or dirty sample. Its weight is the gross weight of the sample. Dockage is assessed on the gross weight of the sample.

Dockage not reported

Normal cleaning procedures

1. Using a Boerner-type divider, divide the uncleaned sample to obtain a representative portion.
   • Official samples shall be at least 1 kg.
   • Unofficial samples shall be at least 1 kg.
2. Choose the appropriate hand sieve for the size of faba bean.
   • numberNo. 8 slotted
   • numberNo. 9 slotted
   • numberNo. 11 slotted
3. Sieve the samples over the appropriate slotted sieve, using approximately 250 g at a time, to remove all readily removable material.
4. Handpick all coarse vegetable matter such as pods, stems, straw, thistle tops from the sieved sample.

Important: Do not handpick mineral matter, ergot, sclerotinia, or large-seeded grains other than faba beans from the sieved sample.

5. Handpick all grasshoppers, other insects and insect parts from the sieved sample.

Composition of dockage

• All material removed by sieving, handpicking or both, as defined in Normal cleaning procedures.
• Soft earth pellets, up to a maximum of 10% of the gross weight of the sample, handpicked from the clean sample

Commercially clean

Commercially clean samples exiting a primary elevator can have up to 0.8% finely broken faba beans removed by the No. 8 slotted sieve deducted as dockage. Samples exiting a primary elevator are considered commercially clean when meeting the requirements set out in the table below.

Optional analysis

Where a shipper requests special cleaning of a carlot of grain at a terminal elevator, and the elevator manager agrees, dockage material will be analyzed for the presence of grain. The percentage and grade of any grain contained in the dockage will be reported.