Standard samples for 2012-13 crop year approved by Eastern Standards Committee

WINNIPEG, Dec. 18, 2012 /CNW/ - At its meeting in Montreal on November 7, 2012, the Eastern Standards Committee recommended new standard and guide samples for wheat and soybeans.

Standard samples, standard prints and guide samples
Standard samples, standard prints and guide samples are grading tools that the Canadian Grain Commission prepares each year. Members of the Eastern Standards Committee examine these tools and recommend their use.

New standard samples
The Eastern Standards Committee recommended the following new standard samples for the 2012-2013 crop year:

• Wheat, # 1 Canada Eastern Red (Red Spring) (Mildew Guide)
• Wheat, # 2 Canada Eastern Red (Red Spring) (Mildew Guide)
• Wheat, # 1 Canada Eastern White (Winter) (Mildew Guide)
• Soybean, # 1 Canada Yellow

Standard samples and prints previously adopted for other grades and grains will continue to be used.

Removal of active standards
The Eastern Standards Committee recommended removing the following standard samples as active samples for the 2012-2013 crop year.

• Domestic mustard, # 1 Canada Yellow (created in 1994)
• Domestic mustard, # 1 Canada Oriental (created in 1994)

Grading changes effective August 1, 2013

• Revised moisture specifications for Barley, Canada Eastern (CE) Food

Grading studies and projects
The Eastern Standards Committee bases its grading recommendations, in part, on the outcome of grading studies and projects.  At the meeting, the committee received updates on several projects.

• A review of moisture levels for stored beans was completed and no changes were recommended as a result.
• A study on the impact of immature peas on end-use functionality was completed and no changes were recommended as a result.
  
• A working group is evaluating whether the canola industry would benefit from adopting near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) instruments to measure chlorophyll content.

About the Eastern Standards Committee
The Eastern Standards Committee meets twice a year to recommend specifications for grades of grain, and to select and recommend standard and guide samples to the Canadian Grain Commission. Members represent different sectors of the grain industry and include producers, grain processors, and exporters.

About the Canadian Grain Commission
The Canadian Grain Commission is the federal agency responsible for establishing and maintaining Canada's grain quality standards. Its programs result in shipments of grain that consistently meet contract specifications for quality, safety and quantity. The Canadian Grain Commission regulates the grain industry to protect producers' rights and ensure the integrity of grain transactions.

SOURCE Canadian Grain Commission