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Sunflower seeds – Chapter 14
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 following the cleaning procedures described in this section of the guide.

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 not reported

▲ Important: Dockage is not reported for samples grading

Sunflower Seed, Sample Canada Account Fireburnt
Sunflower Seed, Sample Salvage
Sunflower Seed, 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	#7 #9 for large-seeded varieties
Air control	#5 #7 for large-seeded varieties
Riddle	none
Top sieve	none
Centre sieve	blank tray
Bottom sieve	none
Sieve cleaner control	none

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

Official samples should be at least 900 grams.
Unofficial samples must be at least 750 grams.

3. Sieve portions of approximately 250 grams at a time.

4. Nest the No. 24 or No. 18 round-hole sieve over one of the following sieves, depending on the size of the seeds:

the No. 10 round-hole sieve
the No. 6 buckwheat sieve

5. Handpick from the material remaining on top of the No. 24 or No. 18 round-hole sieve all whole or broken sunflower seeds. Return them to the portion passing through the No. 24 or No. 18 round-hole sieve and remaining on top of the No. 10 round-hole or No. 6 buckwheat sieve.

6. Pass through the Carter dockage tester the material which has passed through the No. 24 or No. 18 round-hole sieve and remains on top of the No. 10 round-hole sieve (or the No. 6 buckwheat sieve).

7. Handpick whole sound sunflower seeds from the material removed by aspiration and return them to the cleaned sample.

8. Using a Boerner-type divider, divide a portion of approximately 250-g.

Note: At this point the handpicked 250-g portion should be used to determine test weight.

9. Handpick the 250-g portion for inseparable material including broken hulls. Determine what components of the handpicked inseparable material will be considered dockage as directed under Composition of dockage.

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

Composition of dockage

Material removed by either the No. 24 or No. 18 round-hole sieve, except sound whole sunflower seeds
Material removed by aspiration, except sound whole sunflower seeds
Note: Very immature seeds containing no meats are not considered sound.
Material passing through either the No. 10 round-hole sieve or the No. 6 buckwheat sieve
Coarse material handpicked from the sieved sample
Soft earth pellets and other grains handpicked from the sieved sample up to 2.5%
Sclerotinia present in the handpicked sample, up to 2% is treated as a grade determinant and also included in dockage.
Note: In samples eligible for off-grades, other grains, sclerotinia and soft earth pellets are considered a grading factor and are not added to the dockage.

Commercially clean (CC)

Primary samples with dockage levels up to 5.0% are considered commercially clean.

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 sunflower seed.
- 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% Sunflower Seed, No. 1 CAN Confectionary
4.0% Domestic Mustard Seed, No. 1 CAN Oriental
1.0% dockage