Western Standards Committee recommendations from November 1, 2005

The Canadian Grain Commission has formed a working group that will develop an operational plan for implementing falling number measurements into the Canadian wheat grading system, the Canadian Grain Commission announced at the fall meeting of the Western Standards Committee (WSC) on November 1, 2005.

The Canadian Grain Commission's Grain Research Laboratory is evaluating rapid viscosity analysis (RVA) technology. Testing will continue through the fall and into the winter. If the results confirm the accuracy, effectiveness, reliability, and robustness of the technology, then the Canadian Grain Commission hopes to begin implementation on August 1, 2006.

The working group will deliver a progress report at a Canadian Grain Commission seminar on November 28 in Winnipeg and will follow up with an operational plan to be presented at the WSC's spring 2006 meeting. Producers will be invited to provide comments at the seminar. The operational plan may include alternatives should the technology prove not to be robust.

Standard samples

The WSC recommended new standard samples for the following grades for the 2005-06 crop year:

• Wheat, No. 1, 2, and 3 Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS)
• Wheat, No. 1, 2 and 3 Canada Western Amber Durum (CWAD)
• Wheat, No. 1 and 2 Canada Western Soft White Spring (CWSWS)
• Wheat, No. 1 Canada Prairie Spring Red (CPSR)
• Oats (Good colour)
• Barley Special Select ( 2 Row )
• Soybeans, No. 1 Canada Yellow
• Peas, No. 1 and 2 Canada Yellow
• Pea Beans, Canada (Good natural colour)
• Pea Beans, Canada (Reasonably good colour)
• Pea Beans, Canada (Fairly good colour)

It also recommended a visual guide for frost/green in Wheat, No. 4 CWAD.

Standard samples and visual guides are used as visual references by both Canadian Grain Commission and grain industry inspectors. A standard sample is a sample of grain that represents the minimum visual quality for a grade of grain.

Standard samples take into account specific grading factors that are influenced by environmental growing conditions. Visual guides represent the degree to which a specific grading factor can be accepted in a grade.

The WSC reviews and recommends standard samples. The Canadian Grain Commission then designates the standard samples for the crop year. Standard samples previously adopted for other grades and grains will continue to be used.

Updates on research projects

Chlorophyll level as a grading factor in oilseeds

The Oilseeds Subcommittee reported that the Canadian Grain Commission is evaluating two instruments that use near infrared spectroscopy to measure chlorophyll content. A chlorophyll content test would replace distinctly green as a grading factor.

The project follows the technology transfer template and is at the stage that involves a small operational component in the evaluation of the technology. The Canadian Grain Commission is testing the equipment in its laboratories in its Thunder Bay and the Pacific regions. The subcommittee will give the WSC a progress report at its spring meeting.

Influence of hard vitreous kernels (HVK) on Wheat, Canada Western Hard White Spring

The Canadian Grain Commission will continue to study the effects of HVK content on the end use quality of CWRS and CWHWS wheat. The Canadian Grain Commission's Grain Research Laboratory will use samples from the 2005 Harvest Survey and will report on the results at the spring meeting of the WSC.

New research projects

Grading structures for lentils and soybeans

On the recommendation of the Pulse Subcommittee, the Canadian Grain Commission will review the grade structures for lentils and soybeans. The purpose is to determine whether or not the grades and their tolerances reflect the needs of the industry and grain producers. The subcommittee will give the WSC a progress report at its spring meeting.

Chitting determination in malting barley

On the recommendation of the Barley Subcommittee, the Canadian Grain Commission will survey the malting barley industry to find out the various methods that companies use to determine chitting in barley. Chitted barley does not have high, uniform germination rates that produce good quality malt extract.