Third-Party Grade Could Be Useful In Marketing Crop With Variable Quality

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With this year’s crop going into the bin at varying levels of quality, understanding the specs of what’s in storage could prove useful in shopping it around to buyers.

There are a number of options for getting grain assessed by a third party, including the Canadian Grain Commission’s Harvest Sample Program.

Producers can voluntarily submit samples to the CGC to receive an unofficial grade, as well as data on protein content, oil content and other quality factors — all at no cost.

In turn, the commission compiles the data to assess the overall characteristics of the crop and inform  customers about what Canadian farmers have sitting in their bins, explains Twylla McKendry, who looks after the Harvest Sample Program as the CGC’s manager of analytical services.cgc_wheat_hand_close

She says producers may see extra incentive to submit samples this year due to the wide range in crop quality.

“In the last month we’ve had over 100 producers sign up, so there’s definitely an interest,” says McKendry, noting that while sign-up has been strong, the actual samples have been slow to come in so far this fall, likely due to the delayed harvest.

The commission receives approximately 12,000 samples each year for all classes of wheat, pulses and oilseeds. McKendry says they have around 7,000 producers in their database, of which around 60 percent submit samples in a give year.

Related: Mildew and Frost Could Result in Grading Differences Between Grain Buyers

Or listen to McKendry’s conversation with Kelvin Heppner:

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