CNS Canada — The quality of Canada’s 2014 canola crop is down slightly on the year, according to early harvest data compiled by the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC).
With 1,132 samples received as of Wednesday, approximately 88 per cent of the canola samples were graded as No. 1. That compares with 93.7 per cent of all samples that hit the top grade in 2013. The CGC also noted “later-arriving samples may be graded lower due to green seed or other damages.”
The average oil content of the canola hitting the No. 1 grade level was pegged at 44.4 per cent (8.5 per cent moisture basis) in the samples received to date. That was down slightly from the 44.8 per cent seen the previous year, but slightly above the 10-year average of 44.2 per cent.
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Crude protein levels for canola, No. 1 Canada, averaged 20.4 per cent — higher than last year’s mean of 19.8 per cent and similar to the 10-year average of 20.6 per cent. The protein content on an oil-free basis is 39.6 per cent, which is higher than the 2013 mean of 38.7 per cent and similar to the 10-year mean, 39.9 per cent.
Canola, No. 1 Canada, now has a mean chlorophyll content of 11.5 ppm — lower than the 2013 average of 12 ppm and below the 10-year average of 14.3 ppm. However, there are some differences from region to region where some may show higher chlorophyll content than others, said the report.
Iodine values were averaging 112.2 units, which compares with the 2013 mean of 111.8 units. The 10-year average for iodine value is 113.9 units.
Glucosinolate content for the samples collected to date has a mean of 9.9 micromoles per gram — lower than the the 10-year average of 11.2 micromoles/g.
