WINNIPEG, Dec. 18, 2012 /CNW/ - At its meeting in Winnipeg on November 8, 2012, the Western Standards Committee recommended new standard samples, standard prints and guide samples for wheat, soybean and oats.
At the meeting, Canadian Grain Commission inspection experts reported that the most common grading factors were:
- Mildew and fusarium damage in wheat
- Distinctly green seeds in canola
- Weather staining and immaturity in soybeans
Standard samples, standard prints and guide samples
Standard samples, standard prints and guide samples are grading tools that the Canadian Grain Commission prepares each year. Members of the Western Standards Committee examine these tools and recommend their use.
New standard samples
The Western Standards Committee recommended the following new standard samples for the 2012-2013 crop year:
- Wheat, No. 1 Canada Western Red Spring
- Soybean, No. 1 Canada Yellow
Standard samples and prints previously adopted for other grades and grains will continue to be used.
New guide samples
The Western Standards Committee recommended the following new guide samples for the 2012-2013 crop year:
- Wheat, No. 1 Canada Western Red Spring (Mildew Guide)
- Wheat, No. 1 Canada Western Red Winter (Mildew Guide)
- Wheat, No. 2 Canada Western Red Winter (Mildew Guide)
- Wheat, No. 1 Canada Western Hard White Spring (Mildew Guide)
- Wheat, No. 2 Canada Western Hard White Spring (Mildew Guide)
- Oats, Canada Western (Good Colour Guide), (Print)
- Oats, Canada Western (Fair Colour Guide), (Print)
Guide samples previously adopted for other grades and grain will continue to be used.
Removal of active standards
The Western Standards Committee recommended removing the following standard samples as active samples for the 2012-2013 crop year.
- Domestic mustard, No. 1 Canada Yellow (created in 1994)
- Domestic mustard, No. 1 Canada Oriental (created in 1994)
- Oats, Canada Western Good Colour (Standard)
Grading changes effective August 1, 2013
- Removal of the class Solin, Canada Western (CW)
- Revised moisture specifications for Barley, Canada Western (CW) Food
- Revised sprouted tolerances for Wheat, Canada Western Amber Durum
Grading studies and projects
The Western Standards Committee bases its grading recommendations, in part, on the outcome of grading studies and projects. At the meeting, the committee received updates on several projects.
- A review of moisture levels for stored beans was completed and no changes were recommended as a result.
- A study on the impact of immature peas on end-use functionality was completed and no changes were recommended as a result.
- A working group is evaluating whether the canola industry would benefit from adopting near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) instruments to measure chlorophyll content.
About the Western Standards Committee
The Western Standards Committee meets twice a year to recommend specifications for grades of grain, and to select and recommend standard and guide samples to the Canadian Grain Commission. Members represent different sectors of the grain industry and include producers, grain processors, and exporters.
About the Canadian Grain Commission
The Canadian Grain Commission is the federal agency responsible for establishing and maintaining Canada's grain quality standards. Its programs result in shipments of grain that consistently meet contract specifications for quality, safety and quantity. The Canadian Grain Commission regulates the grain industry to protect producers' rights and ensure the integrity of grain transactions.
SOURCE: Canadian Grain Commission
Randy Dennis
Chief Grain Inspector for Canada
Canadian Grain Commission
Telephone: (204) 983-2780
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