Dispute your grain grade

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Producers

The right to dispute your grain grade is available only at the time of delivery to a licensed primary elevator in western Canada. Make sure the person delivering your grain is aware of this service.

If you (or someone delivering grain on your behalf) disagree with a licensed primary elevator’s assessment of your grain’s quality, you have the right to dispute the assessment. You can do so by asking that a representative sample of your grain be sent to the Canadian Grain Commission.

This service can be used to dispute the assessment of your grain’s official grade or any individual grading factor, including:

  • moisture
  • protein
  • dockage

For example, if you only disagree with the elevator’s assessment of your grain’s moisture, you can dispute only the moisture assessment. If you disagree with the assessment of multiple grading factors, you can dispute more than one.

You can request this service when you (or someone delivering grain on your behalf) deliver grain to a licensed primary elevator. At your request, the elevator operator will send a sample of your grain to the Canadian Grain Commission, where it will be assessed by a Canadian Grain Commission inspector. Payment for your grain will be subject to the inspector’s grade and dockage.

Your right at primary elevators

Your right to dispute the grade assessed for your grain only applies to deliveries to licensed primary elevators. This right is not available at licensed process elevators or licensed grain dealers.

Asking for a subject to inspector’s grade and dockage determination

  1. Tell the primary elevator operator that you disagree with the grade, moisture or protein assessment or dockage
  2. Ask the primary elevator operator to send a representative sample of your grain to the Canadian Grain Commission for a decision Subject to Inspector’s Grade and Dockage

The primary elevator operator is responsible for sending a sample of your grain to the Canadian Grain Commission for inspection. The operator will:

  • issue you an interim primary elevator receipt
  • place 1000 grams of the representative sample in an unbreakable container that both you and the elevator operator agree will maintain the quality of the grain sample
  • label the container: Subject to Inspector’s Grade and Dockage
  • complete the form to request the inspection
  • send the completed form and the representative sample to the nearest Canadian Grain Commission service centre

Dispute your grain grade (PDF, 1.98 MB)

Infographic of how to dispute your grain grade. Text version below
Text version: Dispute your grain grade

When delivering grain to a primary elevator

  1. Tell the primary elevator operator that you disagree with the grade or dockage assessed.
  2. Ask the elevator operator to send a representative sample of your grain to the Canadian Grain Commission for a decision Subject to Inspector’s Grade and Dockage.
  3. The elevator operator will issue you an interim primary elevator receipt.
  4. The elevator operator will send a 1000-gram representative sample of your grain to the nearest Canadian Grain Commission service centre.
  5. A Canadian Grain Commission inspector will inspect the sample and determine the grade and dockage.
  6. The Canadian Grain Commission will send a Submitted Sample Certificate with the results to both you and the primary elevator operator.
  7. The elevator operator will exchange your interim primary elevator receipt for a primary elevator receipt, cash purchase ticket or cheque.
  8. The Canadian Grain Commission will send an invoice for the cost of the service to the primary elevator, which must be paid by either you or the primary elevator.

Receiving your grain inspection results

Once the service centre receives your sample, a Canadian Grain Commission inspector will inspect the sample and determine the grade and dockage. The Canadian Grain Commission will send a Submitted Sample Certificate with the results to both you and the primary elevator operator.

Once you receive the results, the primary elevator operator will exchange the interim primary elevator receipt for a primary elevator receipt, cash purchase ticket or cheque that shows the inspection results. The Canadian Grain Commission will send an invoice for the cost of the service to the primary elevator at the end of the month. This will need to be paid by either you or the primary elevator operator.

Appealing grain inspection results

If you disagree with the results provided by the Canadian Grain Commission inspector, you have the right to appeal the results. You must contact the Canadian Grain Commission service centre within 15 days from the date on the Submitted Sample Certificate and ask that your sample be sent to the Chief Grain Inspector for Canada.

The Chief Grain Inspector for Canada will inspect your sample and provide a final decision. Each person named in the request will receive a record of the decision. If the Chief Grain Inspector changes the grading results for your sample, both you and the primary elevator operator will receive a revised Submitted Sample Certificate.

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