Harvest time is here again and with it the Canadian Grain Commission annual Harvest Sample program begins. Each fall, the Canadian Grain Commission asks Canadian producers to sign up for the program and submit representative samples of their crops. The commission uses the samples to determine the quality of the harvest while it is going to market. Buyers from all over the world use this information to learn about the quality of Canadian grain.

Producers benefit from participating in the Harvest Sample program while helping to market Canadian grain at the same time. Producers who submit samples receive the following free of charge:

An unofficial Canadian Grain Commission grade

Protein content in cereal grains and pulses

Oil, protein and chlorophyll content in canola

Oil and protein content and iodine value in flaxseed The Canadian Grain Commission’s researchers also benefit from the Harvest Sample program. After the quality data for the year is produced, the samples are used in research projects. Research at the Canadian Grain Commission helps Canadian producers and the industry by exploring new uses for grains, investigating trends and understanding quality factors.

Producers can sign up for the Harvest Sample program at www.grainscanada.gc.ca.Producers who are already signed up will receive their packages shortly. Producers simply fill the enclosed envelopes and return them, postage-paid, to the Canadian Grain Commission.

After a few weeks, producers can receive their results using their Harvest ID number. Western Canadian producers can obtain their results online or by calling 1-866-324-2248 toll free. Eastern Canadian producers can obtain their results by sending an email to [email protected] grainscanada. gc.caor by calling 1-800-853-6705.

The Canadian Grain Commission asks producers to send in samples no matter how their crops look this year. In order for the Canadian Grain Commission to fully understand this year’s harvest, we require samples from farms in each region of the country and representing a variety of quality levels.