A grain grading seminar was held in Swift Current and Yorkton last week.

The event featured representatives from the Canadian Grain Commission, CIGI and the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission.

Randy Dennis is the Chief Grain Inspector with the Canadian Grain Commission.

"We think it is a wonderful opportunity for producers to get some information about the grading system, the quality assurance system in general and really what the benefit is to the producer to understand how their grain is being graded. They have a good idea of the quality of it when they are going to deliver it or send it as a producer car."

He also talked about the Wheat Class Modernization that’s happening for our customers that will result in a segregation in classes for gluten strength.

"Come August first of this year there is going to be two new classes established and there will be the elimination of three classes. The significance of that change is that the Canada Western Red Spring class will remain as is but we have established a new class called Canada Northern Hard Red. That Canada Northern Hard Red has been established because it will have a lower gluten strength then the class of Canada Western Red Spring Class."

He notes a number of varieties that are currently in the CWRS and CPSR will move into the new class, in addition the CGC is also eliminating the Canada Western Feed, Canada Western General Purpose and the interim class.

Producers attending were also encouraged to take part in the free Harvest Sample program.

The information helps the industry determine the quality of the overall crop when talking to our customers.

Farmers who take part in the program also receive a report on the quality of the samples they submitted.

Photo courtesy of Glenda-Lee Allan Vossler