WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA — Wet weather on the Canadian prairies during 2010 affected the crop through all stages, from seeding to harvest and could have a significant impact on the grades that some producers receive at delivery, the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) said on Dec. 20.

In response to this year’s grading issues, the Western Standards Committee recommended new standard samples, standard prints and guide samples for wheat, peas, pea beans and lentils at its meeting in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, on Nov. 9.


“The standard samples, standard prints and guide samples are indispensable tools for private industry and for our own inspectors. These tools visually represent our established grading tolerances and help the user accurately determine a grade when factors such as frost or staining have to be considered,” said Elwin Hermanson, chair of the standards committee and chief commissioner of the CGC.

At the meeting CGC inspection experts reported that the most common grading factors were:

• Frost and mildew in wheat.
• Bleaching and staining in lentils.
• Mold and weather staining in beans.

Standard samples, standard prints and guide samples are grading tools that the CGC prepares each year. Members of the Western Standards Committee examine these tools and recommend their use.

Inspectors from grain companies and the CGC use these tools when they are grading grain.

The Western Standards Committee recommended the following new standard samples for the 2010-11 crop year:

• Wheat, No. 1 Canada Prairie Spring Red.
• Wheat, No. 2 Canada Prairie Spring Red.
• Wheat, No. 2 Canada Western Red Spring.
• Wheat, No. 3 Canada Western Red Spring.
• Wheat, No. 4 Canada Western Red Spring.

Standard samples previously adopted for other grades and grains will continue to be used.

The Western Standards Committee recommended the following guide samples for the 2010-11 crop year:

• Wheat, No. 1 Canada Western Red Spring (Mildew guide).
• Wheat, No. 2 Canada Western Red Spring (Mildew guide).
• Wheat, No. 3 Canada Western Red Spring (Mildew guide).
• Wheat, No. 1 Canada Western Red Winter (Mildew guide).

Guide samples previously adopted for other grades and grains will continue to be used.