Food barley varieties get new designation by CGC
By: Farms.com
The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) has introduced several significant grain grading changes for the 2024-2025 crop year following comprehensive consultations with sector stakeholders and the Western and Eastern Standards Committees.
These updates are designed to improve the quality assurance system, ensuring that Canada’s grain sector meets both domestic and international demands for high-quality grain.
A change is the introduction of new variety designation lists for food barley. Unlike malting or feed barley, food barley varieties have specific quality features such as high beta-glucans, essential for food production.
The CGC will implement these changes for Barley, Canada Eastern Food starting July 1, 2024, and for Barley, Canada Western Food from August 1, 2024. This will help Canadian producers and the agricultural sector leverage the benefits of growing these specialized varieties.
Another significant update involves the assessment of seed coat discolouration in soybeans.
Effective August 1, 2024, the Official Grain Grading Guide will be updated to include clearer definitions and revised grade determination tables for factors related to soybean staining.
The CGC will also add new photographs to the web version of the guide to aid in evaluating seed coat discolouration.
In addition, the CGC is reformatting the grade determination tables in the Official Grain Grading Guide to be more user-friendly.
Starting August 1, 2024, grain grades will be displayed in a column (vertical) format, while grading factors will be listed in a row (horizontal) format.
This change is purely in the formatting and does not affect any grading factors or tolerances. The new and old table formats will be available online for six months to facilitate a smooth transition.
Under the Canada Grain Act, the CGC is tasked with establishing and maintaining Canada’s grain grading system.
The CGC has engaged with sector stakeholders through the Western and Eastern Standards Committees to implement these changes, ensuring fair compensation for producers and upholding Canada’s reputation for high-quality and safe grain.
“The Canadian Grain Commission values stakeholder input and is implementing these changes based on feedback from the sector. They will support continued growth and Canada’s reputation as a dependable source of high-quality grain,” said David Hunt, Chief Commissioner of the CGC.
These updates are set to bolster Canada’s position as a reliable provider of top-quality grain, benefiting the Canadian agriculture sector and consumers worldwide.