Cereal grains in buckwheat include wheat, rye, triticale, barley, oats and groats, including wild oat groats that remain in the clean sample.

Representative portion for analysis

Minimum—50 g     Optimum—100 g     Export—250 g

▲ Important: Wear gloves and a mask to handle any sample that is suspected of containing contaminated grain.

Contaminated is defined in the “Canada Grain Act” as; “Contaminated means, in respect of grain, containing any substance in sufficient quantity that the grain is unfit for consumption by persons or animals or is adulterated within the meaning of the regulations made pursuant to sections B.01.046(1), B.15.001 and B.15.002(1) of the Food and Drugs Act.”

Samples deemed to be contaminated by the Grain Research Laboratory in consultation with the Chief Grain Inspector for Canada are graded Buckwheat, Sample Condemned.

Damage includes all dehulled seeds and seeds that are frosted, mouldy, or otherwise unsound. The hull of damaged kernels collapses under pressure, as when rolled between the thumb and forefinger.

Representative portion for analysis

Minimum—25 g     Optimum—50 g     Export—50 g

Dehulled buckwheat is buckwheat with its hulls removed.

Representative portion for analysis

Minimum—10 g     Optimum—50 g     Export—50 g

• Hard earth pellets are pellets that do not crumble under light pressure. See Stones.
• Soft earth pellets are pellets that crumble under light pressure. See Soft earth pellets.

Ergot is a plant disease producing elongated fungal bodies that have a purplish-black exterior, a purplish-white to off white interior, and a relatively smooth surface texture.

Representative portion for analysis

Minimum—500 g     Optimum—1000 g     Export—1000 g

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

Representative portion for analysis

Minimum—working sample     Optimum—working sample     Export—working sample

Fertilizer pellets are typically either small, round and white or irregular shaped and pink or red. Fertilizer pellets are not considered a hazardous substance however there is no visible means of assuring that material resembling fertilizer pellets is not some other contaminant.

Representative portion for analysis

Minimum—working sample     Optimum—working sample     Export—working sample

Procedures

• Handpick any fertilizer pellets and determine the concentration basis the net working sample.
• Fertilizer pellets are assessed as stones when the concentration does not exceed 1.0% of the net sample weight.
• Samples containing fertilizer pellets in excess of 1.0% of the net sample weight are graded Buckwheat, Held IP Suspect Contaminated Grain.

Note: Canadian Grain Commission personnel should refer to ISO national work instruction “Suspect Contaminated Grain, Handling Procedures” for procedures to be followed when handling samples containing fertilizer pellets.

Fireburnt samples are samples that contain kernels that show any evidence of being charred or scorched by fire.

Representative portion for analysis

Minimum—500 g     Optimum—working     Export—working sample

Immature kernels

• Do not contain a groat or have a severely shriveled groat
• Have a hull which collapses under pressure

Representative portion for analysis

Minimum—25 g     Optimum—50 g     Export—50 g

Matter other than cereal grains includes weed seeds and other grains that are not readily removable and may include peas, lentils, beans, corn, and other domestic or wild seeds that remain in the cleaned sample.

Representative portion for analysis

Minimum—50 g     Optimum—250 g     Export—250 g

There is no numeric tolerance for odour. Consider

• The basic quality of the sample
• The type and degree of the odour
• The presence of visible residue causing the odour

Representative portion for analysis

Minimum—working sample     Optimum—working sample     Export—working sample

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a fungus producing hard masses of fungal tissue, called sclerotia. The sclerotia vary in size and shape, have a course surface texture, vary in exterior color from dark black to gray to white and have a pure white interior.

Representative portion for analysis

Minimum—500 g     Optimum—1000 g     Export—1000 g

Size is evaluated using a No. 8 slotted sieve. The size, large or small, is added to the grade name; for example, Buckwheat, No. 1 Canada Large.

Representative portion for analysis

Minimum—250 g     Optimum—250 g     Export—250 g

Soft earth pellets are

• Earth pellets that crumble into fine dust under light pressure, using a finger only— if they do not crumble, they are considered Stones.
• Any non-toxic material of similar consistency

Representative portion for analysis

Minimum—working sample     Optimum—working sample     Export—working sample

Procedures

1. Handpick soft earth pellets from a representative portion of the cleaned sample.
2. Soft earth pellets are removed as dockage. See Composition of dockage.

Stones are hard shale, coal, hard earth pellets, and any other non toxic materials of similar consistency. Fertilizer pellets are assessed as stones when constituting 1.0% or less of the net sample weight. (See Fertilizer pellets for specific procedures to be followed when samples contain fertilizer pellets.)

Representative portion for analysis

Minimum—250 g     Optimum—500 g     Export—1000 g

Procedures

1. Handpick stones from a representative portion of the cleaned sample.
2. Determine stone concentration in the net sample.

1. In western Canada samples of grain containing stones in excess of “basic grade” tolerances, up to 2.5% are graded Buckwheat, Rejected “basic grade” Account Stones. The “basic grade” refers to a grade established in the Canada Grain Regulations (grades listed in the first column in grade determinant tables) that would have been assigned to the sample if it contained no stones.
2. In eastern Canada samples of grain containing stones in excess of grade tolerances are degraded to lower grades. Samples containing stones in excess of the tolerance of the lowest grade established by regulation up to 2.5% are graded Buckwheat, Sample Canada Account Stones.
3. In western and eastern Canada grain containing more than 2.5% stones is graded Buckwheat, Sample Salvage.

Examples: Western Canada

Basic grade:....................... Buckwheat, No. 2 Canada Large

Reason for basic grade:...... 2.0% Dehulled

Examples: Eastern Canada

Basic grade:....................... Buckwheat, No. 2 Canada Large

Reason for basic grade:...... 2.0% Dehulled

Treated seed

Treated seed is grain that has been coated with an agricultural chemical for agronomic purposes. These seed dressings contain a dye to render the treated seed visually conspicuous. The colour of the dye varies depending upon the type of treatment and the type of grain. The current Canadian colour standards for pesticide seed treatments are: cereals–pink or red, canola–baby blue or green. Seed treated with an inoculant may have a green stain. The coatings or stains may appear greasy or powdery and surface area distribution ranges from tiny flecks to complete coverage.

Other chemical substances

Other chemical substances refers to any chemical residues either adhering to the kernel or remaining in the sample and to samples having a chemical odour of any kind.

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

Representative portion for analysis

Minimum—working sample     Optimum—working sample     Export—working sample

If a sample is suspected of being coated with a pesticide, desiccant, inoculant or if the sample contains evidence of any foreign chemical substance other than fertilizer pellets, the sample shall be graded Buckwheat, Held IP Suspect Contaminated Grain.

Note: Canadian Grain Commission personnel should refer to ISO national work instruction “Suspect Contaminated Grain, Handling Procedures” for specific procedures to be followed when handling samples suspected of containing treated seed or other chemical substances.

Any variety of buckwheat registered for production in Canada is eligible for the grade of No. 1 Canada.