Sunflower seed: 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

Normal cleaning procedures

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 shall be at least 1 kg.
   • Unofficial samples shall be at least 1 kg.
3. Sieve portions of approximately 250 grams at a time.
4. Nest the numberNo. 24 or numberNo. 18 round-hole sieve over one of the following sieves, depending on the size of the seeds:
   • the numberNo. 10 round-hole sieve
   • the numberNo. 6 buckwheat sieve
5. Handpick from the material remaining on top of the numberNo. 24 or numberNo. 18 round-hole sieve all whole or broken sunflower seeds. Return them to the portion passing through the numberNo. 24 or numberNo. 18 round-hole sieve and remaining on top of the numberNo.10 round-hole or numberNo. 6 buckwheat sieve.
6. Pass through the Carter dockage tester the material which has passed through the numberNo. 24 or numberNo. 18 round-hole sieve and remains on top of the numberNo. 10 round-hole sieve (or the numberNo. 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.
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

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

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

Composition of dockage

• Material removed by either the numberNo. 24 or numberNo. 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 numberNo. 10 round-hole sieve or the numberNo. 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 (CCLN)

Samples exiting primary elevators 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 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.