Barley – Chapter 6
Official Grain Grading Guide

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Grading

Important definitions

Net weight of sample

The sample after cleaning and removal of dockage is referred to as the cleaned sample. Its weight is the net weight of the sample. Percentages by weight for grading refer to percentages of the cleaned sample, the net weight.

Hazardous substances in samples

Wear gloves and a mask to handle any samples that you suspect may contain hazardous substances. Hazardous substances are defined in the Regulations as “any pesticide, herbicide, dessicant or inoculant.”

Malting Barley

The selection of barley for malting purposes is the responsibility of selecting companies. Each individual company has their own selection criteria and specifications. All barley selected for malting purposes will be graded according to the specification list in the Barley CW/CE malting grade schedule.

Producer Deliveries

Once barley has been selected for malting purposes, if there is a disagreement on the assessment of any factors listed in the “Characteristics of Malt Barley” table, the Canadian Grain Commission, upon request will perform an analysis of the disputed factor. A representative portion of not less than 750 grams of the unload will be forwarded to the Canadian Grain Commission along with a request in writing (form I-105) specifying which factors are to be analyzed.

Terminal Deliveries

Railcar unloads of selected malt barley will be analyzed by the Canadian Grain Commission for Standard of Quality factors (listed in the Grade Schedule). If the shipper or receiver disagrees with the analysis they have the right to request a reinspection.

Any requests for analysis of other “Characteristics of Malt Barley” must be made in writing and received prior to unload. If the shipper or receiver disagrees with the Canadian Grain Commission analysis, they have the right to request a re-analysis of the Characteristics of Malt Barley using (form I-105).

Terminal deliveries not identified as malt barley at the time of unload will be graded as general purpose barley.

Characteristics of Malt Barley

• Peeled and Broken
• Other cereal grains
• Sprouted
• Wild oats
• Barley of other types
• Total Foreign Material
• Plump and Thin
• Protein

Note: Specific tolerances are set by the selecting company.

Representative portion for grading

All grading is done on representative portions divided down from the cleaned sample, using a Boerner-type divider.

Values in the following table represent a range of recommended portions of samples for grading. Refer to definition of “Representative portion” in the glossary for a complete description of the terms “Minimum”, “Optimum” and “Export”.

Representative portion of barley for grading, grams

Grading factor	Minimum	Optimum	Export
Adhered hulls	100	250	250
Barley of other types	10	10	10
Broken	25	50	50
Covered smut and false loose smut	working sample	working sample	working sample
Ergot	500	1000	1000
Excreta	working sample	working sample	working sample
Fireburnt	500	working sample	working sample
Frost	25	100	100
Fusarium damage	25	100	100
Heated	25	100	100
Inseparable seeds — malting and hulless	100	working sample	working sample
Inseparable seeds — general purpose	100	100	100
Odour	working sample	working sample	working sample
Other cereal grains	50	100	250
Peeled and broken	50	100	100
Plump and thin	250	250	250
Rotted kernels	50	250	100
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum	500	1000	1000
Severe mildew	50	100	100
Soft earth pellets	working sample	working sample	working sample
Sprouted	25	25	25
Stones	500	1000	1000
Varieties with adhered hulls	50	100	250
Weathered	working sample	working sample	working sample
Wild oats	50	100	250

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