When marketing your peas, lentils, or any other crop, it can be helpful to have a third-party assessment showing the grade, protein content and other attributes of what you’re selling.
Every year the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) looks for samples from farmers from across Canada as a part of its Harvest Sample Program.
The program, which has been around since 1927, is voluntary and free, with producers submitting samples to the CGC’s head office in Winnipeg. In exchange, they receive an unofficial grade and info on protein and oil content, and dockage.
CGC staff are reaching out to growers again this year, as they don’t see the program being used to it’s full potential.
Producers sometimes think their farm isn’t big enough for the program, that it will cost them too much, or they are simply unaware of the information they will get back, says Colin Van Haar, inspection trainer for the CGC.
“You get to learn what the quality of your crop is, and it also gives insights on what we can expect for that year’s crops, in all different grains, what grading factors might be prevalent at the time, and just general grading information,” he explains.
To learn more about the harvest sample program, and how to get involved, check out this Pulse School video filmed at Making the Grade in Olds, Alberta:
Related:
- Pulse School: Majority of Lentils In Top Two Grades: CGC Survey
- Third-Party Grade Could Be Useful In Marketing Crop With Variable Quality
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