The program provides an unofficial grade along with quality information for crops to help farmers with marketing.

Producers who are not currently registered for the Harvest Sample Program, but who would like to take part this year, have until Dec. 12 to register at the Canadian Grain Commission website.

[RELATED] Selling to an unlicensed grain buyer

There is no charge to participate, and registered participants can send in samples until Dec. 30. They will receive an emailed report that includes an unofficial grade along with other quality results including dockage, falling number, vomitoxin (DON) and protein and oil content.

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The test weight calculators make it easier to calculate the test weight in three commonly used units of measurement: kilograms per hectolitre (kg/ hl), pounds per Avery bushel (lbs./bu.-A), and pounds per Winchester bushel (lbs./bu.-W). A Canadian bushel is based on the Avery (imperial) bushel (36.37 l), which is slightly larger than the Winchester (U.S.) bushel (35.24 l). 

The tool can be found at grainscanada.gc.ca by clicking on the Test Weight Calculators link. 

There are also calculators to determine the volume of grain in bins, piles, and containers.

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Eligible producers who were not paid for grain delivered to ILTA Grain Inc. will be fully compensated through the Canadian Grain Commission’s Safeguards for Grain Farmers Program.

The Saskatchewan-based pulse and canary seed buyer and exporter was put under creditor protection in July, defaulting on amounts owed to grain farmers for unpaid deliveries.

The grain commission subsequently assessed 271 individual claims from producers, the largest number ever received against a company’s security.

Of those, 222 were deemed eligible for compensation, with more than $11 million being paid out. These claims are fully covered by the security posted by ILTA Grain under the terms of its licences.

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Producers now have until Nov. 30 to register online at www.grainscanada.gc.ca and until Dec. 31 to submit samples taken from their crops.

There is no cost, and participating producers are emailed a report that includes an unofficial grade, protein, and dockage for their grain. As well, this year, producers who send in wheat samples will get Falling Number and DON (deoxynivalenol) results.

“Having quality results in hand when they go to the elevators will help producers make the best of a challenging year,” said chief commissioner Patti Miller.

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New variety designation lists also came into effect on Aug. 1 — 25 varieties of Canada Western Red Spring and four varieties of Canada Prairie Spring Red wheat that do not meet revised quality parameters have been reassigned to the Canada Northern Hard Red class.

For more info, go to the Canadian Grain Commission website.

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• Before making a delivery, make sure the company is licensed by the Canadian Grain Commission, which requires licensed grain companies to provide security to cover money owed to producers for deliveries. Unregulated grains and deliveries of any grain to unlicensed grain companies aren’t eligible for compensation if payment terms are not met.
• Also get a primary elevator receipt, grain receipt, or cash purchase ticket that identifies the grain, grade, weight, price, and date of delivery. Scale tickets are not accepted for compensation claims.
• And ask to be paid for your grain right away. When delivering multiple loads of grain to one company, it’s a good idea to ask for payment after each load or every few loads. Wait until the cheque clears before delivering another load.

If a licensed company refuses to pay for your grain, stalls on payment, or a financial institution denies payment on your cash purchase ticket or cheque, don’t make any further deliveries.

“Grain producers should contact the Canadian Grain Commission immediately if they experience any trouble or delays getting paid,” said chief commissioner Patti Miller. “Waiting too long could put your eligibility for compensation at risk.”

More than 140 grain companies (operating more than 400 facilities) are currently licensed by the grain commission. A list of licensed companies can be found at www.grainscanada.gc.ca (click on ‘Licensed grain companies’) as well as information about financial protection.

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Participants in the Harvest Sample Program receive dockage assessment on canola; an unofficial grade; protein content on barley, beans, chickpeas, lentils, oats, peas and wheat; oil, protein and chlorophyll content for canola; oil and protein content and iodine value for flaxseed; and oil and protein for mustard seed and soybeans.

Samples are accepted until November. For more info, go to the Harvest Sample Program page at www.grainscanada.gc.ca.

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The impact of snow on canola quality has not been studied and the commission wants to assess the impact of snowed-in and overwintered canola on the quality of the 2016 crop and assess its end-use functionality. This research will help ensure the Canadian canola industry continues to supply a consistent and dependable commodity to end-use customers.

To participate in this study and receive information about the quality of your canola crop, email Veronique Barthet at veronique.barthet@grainscanada.gc.ca or Twylla McKendry at twylla.mcKendry@grainscanada.gc.ca.

Participants will receive an envelope for their canola sample and a consent card by mail.

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To protect the quality of grain currently in storage, the commission recommends the following:

• Sample the grain from the core at a depth of 30 to 50 centimetres (12 to 18 inches) from the surface. Insects are likely to be found in pockets of warm or moist grain. Sieve the samples or examine small portions carefully. Typically, stored product insects are very small beetles (less than three millimetres or one-eighth inch) that may not be moving. A magnifying glass can be helpful.
• For best results, grain temperature should be less than 15 C and have an appropriate moisture content (for example, wheat should be at or lower than 14.5 per cent moisture content).
• Summer surveys have shown that the lesser grain borer has been found across the country, particularly in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. The lesser grain borer is one of Canada’s most damaging pests found in stored grain.
• Insects could be grain feeders, fungal feeders, or predators of these insects. By accurately identifying insects, you can determine the appropriate control method.
• Make sure storage areas are clean and free from grain residues that can harbour or attract insects.
• If required, treat your empty storage bins with a registered contact insecticide such as malathion, pyrethrin or a diatomaceous earth-based product. Make sure you treat floor-wall joints, aeration plenums or floors and access points thoroughly. Do not use malathion in bins intended for canola storage.

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These records contain lists of licensed elevators, their locations and capacity in Western and Eastern Canada.

Peel’s Prairie Provinces is a website dedicated to preserving western Canadian history and Prairie culture. It features an online bibliography of books, pamphlets and other materials related to the development of the Prairies, as well as a searchable, full-text collection of many of these items.

Digitization and hosting of the Canadian Grain Commission’s print records was provided by the University of Alberta Libraries.

Grain Elevators in Canada was first published in 1912 and is one of the Canadian Grain Commission’s oldest reports.

“Grain Elevators in Canada is a window into the history of Prairie communities,” said Christine Wallmann, an information technician with the Canadian Grain Commission.

“The history and economy of the Prairies was linked to the grain trade. Many of the requests we get for information come from community historical societies, and data such as the number of elevators or who owned the local elevator can help historians better understand Prairie life.”

The University of Alberta Libraries’ website, Peel’s Prairie Provinces can be found here.

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