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Flaxseed and solin – Chapter 11
Official Grain Grading Guide

Determination of dockage

Definitions

Dockage is assessed and recorded to the nearest 0.1%.

Dockage is defined under the Canada Grain Act as “any material intermixed with a parcel of grain, other than kernels of grain of a standard of quality fixed by or under this Act for a grade of that grain, that must and can be separated from the parcel of grain before that grade can be assigned to the grain.” Dockage is removed by the following cleaning procedures described in this chapter.

The sample as it arrives is referred to as the uncleaned or dirty sample. Its weight is the gross weight of the sample. Dockage is assessed on the gross weight of the sample.

Dockage is assessed in two stages.

Follow Normal cleaning procedures, using the Carter dockage tester.
Follow procedures for Cleaning for grade improvement. This cleaning can be done at any time after the cleaning assessment has been completed.

Dockage not reported

▲ Important: Dockage is not reported for samples graded

Flaxseed, Sample CW/CE Account Fireburnt
Solin, Sample CW Account Fireburnt
Flaxseed/Solin, Sample Salvage
Flaxseed/Solin, Sample Condemned

Normal cleaning procedures

▲ Important: Wear gloves and a mask to handle any samples that you suspect may contain hazardous substances.

1. Set up the Carter dockage tester as follows:

Feed control	#4
Air control	#3
Riddle	No. 000
Top sieve	Blank tray
Centre sieve	None
Bottom sieve	None
Sieve cleaner control	Off

2. You need the No. 4.5 round-hole sieve, and one wire sieve, depending on the size of the flaxseed or solin and the nature of the material to be removed.

Round-hole sieves	Wire sieves
No. 4.5	No. 4x14
	No. 3x16

3. Using a Boerner-type divider, divide the uncleaned sample to obtain a representative portion.

Official samples should be at least 900 g.
Unofficial samples should be at least 750 g.

4. For hand sieving use approximately 250 g per sieving

Sieve each portion over the appropriate wire sieve until maximum cleanout has been achieved.
Handpick seed clusters and return the seeds to the cleaned sample.
Sieve each portion over the No. 4.5 RH sieve until maximum cleanout has been achieved.

5. Combine the separated 250-g portions.

6. Turn on the Carter dockage tester.

7. Pour the entire working sample into the hopper.

8. After the sample has passed through the machine, turn off the machine.

9. Lightly snap the retainer rod of the aspiration pan to loosen material gathered on the air screen.

10. Using a Boerner-type divider, divide not less than 20 g from the cleaned working sample.

11. From the 20-g portion, determine the percentage by weight of inseparable material.

12. Determine dockage, using the list under Composition of dockage.

Composition of dockage

Dockage includes

Material remaining on top of the wire sieve, except flaxseed clusters and whole flaxseed that are put back into the sample
Material that passes through the No. 4.5 round-hole sieve
Material removed by aspiration
Material that passes over the No. 000 riddle
Soft earth pellets handpicked from the cleaned sample
Inseparable material up to established grade tolerances handpicked from the clean sample
Material removed by cleaning for grade improvement

Primary samples, commercially clean

Primary samples are commercially clean when the net dockage does not exceed 2.5% of the sample weight. Commercially clean primary samples can have up to 0.5% for broken and reasonably sound flaxseed or solin deducted from the gross weight of the dockage.

Primary samples, not commercially clean

In not commercially clean primary samples there is no allowance for broken and reasonably sound flaxseed or solin.

Sample grades

In sample grades, inseparable admixture is not added to dockage. Where the inseparable material exceeds 2.0% of the sample by weight, the admixture becomes a reason for the sample grade and is recorded in remarks.

Rejected account stones

In samples that grade Rejected (basic grade) Account Stones, dockage includes inseparable material handpicked from the clean sample up to the tolerance.

Cleaning for grade improvement

If the grade of a delivery can be improved by additional cleaning, perform the cleaning and add the additional material to dockage. Cleaning for grade improvement can be done at any time after the cleaning assessment has been completed.

After the cleaning assessment has been completed, examine the material to be removed and select your equipment according to the material you want to remove. See the table Cleaning for grade improvement—Flaxseed or solin for the list of equipment.
Sieve the material by hand or pass it through the Carter dockage tester, depending on the material.
▲ Important: When you use a hand sieve, move the sieve from left to right 30 times, using a sifting motion. One time is one complete motion from the centre, to one side, to the other side, and back to the centre. The total distance from left to right is 20 cm, or about eight inches.
Weigh the additional dockage and add it to the original dockage.

Cleaning for grade improvement—Flaxseed or solin
Material to be removed	Equipment	Effect on composition of dockage
Inseparable material	No. 5 round-hole hand sieve	The material passing through the sieve is included in the dockage. Not more than 5.0% of sound flaxseed or solin may be removed for each single grade improvement achieved.
Lightweight material	Carter dockage tester, with Feed control at #4 and air control at #4.5 Note: The material originally removed by aspiration is to be reconstituted back into the sample prior to cleaning for improvement.	The material removed, including damaged seed, is included in the dockage. Not more than 5.0% of sound flaxseed or solin may be removed from the cleaned sample for each single grade improvement achieved.

Optional analysis

Where a shipper requests special cleaning of a carlot of grain at a terminal or transfer elevator, and the elevator manager agrees, dockage material will be analyzed for the presence of grain. The percentage and grade of any grain contained in the dockage will be reported and elevator stocks will be adjusted on the basis of the analysis. Agreement of the shipper and unload elevator must be conveyed to the CGC in writing prior to the analysis being performed.

Procedures

Analyze the official sample.
Record the following on inspection records:
- The percentage by gross weight to the nearest 0.1% and the grade of flaxseed/solin.
- The percentage by gross weight to the nearest 0.1% and the grade of grain separable from dockage.
- The percentage of dockage.

Example
95.0% Flaxseed, No. 1 CW
4.0% Barley No. 1 CW
1.0% dockage