Barley: 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 procedure described in this chapter.

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 is assessed in two stages.

1. Follow the Normal cleaning procedure, using the Carter dockage tester.
2. Follow the procedure for Cleaning for grade improvement. This cleaning can be done at any time after the cleaning assessment has been completed.

Dockage not reported

Normal cleaning procedure

1. Set up the Carter dockage tester as follows:

   Specifications for the Carter dockage tester:

   Feed control	number# 5
   Air control	number# 6
   Riddle	numberNo. 6
   Top sieve	numberNo. 6 buckwheat
   Centre sieve	numberNo. 5 buckwheat
   Bottom sieve	Blank tray
   Sieve cleaner control	Off

2. Using a Boerner-type divider, divide the sample to obtain a representative portion.
3. • Official samples shall be at least 1 kg.
   • Unofficial samples shall be at least 1 kg.
4. Turn on the Carter dockage tester.
5. Pour the sample into the hopper.
6. After the sample has passed through the machine, turn on the sieve cleaner control for 2 to 3 seconds to remove kernels lodged in the sieve.
7. Turn off the dockage tester.
8. Lightly snap the retainer rod of the aspiration pan to loosen material gathered on the air screen.

   Important: These are the normal settings. Ensure when you aspirate general purpose barley that you do not remove light weight barley from the sample.

   If the aspirated material contains lightweight barley:

   1. Return the material to the sample.
   2. Reset the Carter dockage tester with a lower air setting to remove only lightweight dockage material.
   3. Pass it through the Carter dockage tester again.
9. Remove the aspiration pan.
10. Determine dockage, using the list under composition of dockage.

Composition of dockage

Dockage includes

• Material other than barley removed over the numberNo. 6 riddle
• Lightweight material removed by aspiration
• Material removed by the numberNo. 5 buckwheat sieve
• Soft earth pellets (SEP), up to a maximum of 10% of the gross weight of the sample, handpicked from the clean sample
• Material removed by cleaning for grade improvement

Cleaning for grade improvement

If the grade of a sample can be improved by additional cleaning, perform the cleaning and add the additional material to dockage. Cleaning for grade improvement can be done at any time after the cleaning assessment has been completed, including on export.

1. After the cleaning assessment has been completed, examine the material to be removed and select your equipment according to the material you want to remove. See the table Cleaning for grade improvement—Barley for the list of equipment.
2. Sieve the sample by hand, or pass it through the Carter dockage tester, depending on the material.

   Important: When using a hand sieve, move the sieve from left to right 30 times, in a steady motion. One complete motion is approximately 10 cm from the center to one side, back to the center, approximately 10 cm to the other side and back to the center.

3. Weigh the additional dockage and add it to the original dockage.

   Cleaning for grade improvement—Barley

   Class	Material to be removed	Equipment	Effect on composition of dockage
   All classes	Large seeds	numberNo. 6 buckwheat hand sieve	Large seeds are Seeds that do not pass through the numberNo. 4.5 round-hole sieve Grains other than cereal grains, such as peas, beans, corn, flaxseed and domestic buckwheat Ragweed and Tartary buckwheat Assess material as dockage, provided the grade is improved and not more than 5.0% of barley is removed.
   All classes	Covered smut and false loose smut	Carter dockage tester, set up for the Normal cleaning procedure, with air control set to 7 Note: The material originally removed by aspiration is to be reconstituted back into the sample prior to cleaning for improvement.	If the percentage by weight of material removed is Less than 2.0% of the gross weight of the sample, add to dockage 2.0% or more of the gross weight of the sample, the sample is sent to the Chief Grain Inspector for review
   All classes	Attached awns	Hand rub barley, Carter dockage tester for aspiration	Removes awns. Separates detached awns from working sample. Awns removed to be included in dockage.
   Hulless type only	Wild oats, shrunken barley and rye grass	numberNo. 9x9 wire hand sieve	For the select hulless grades, wild oats, shrunken barley and rye grass removed in the cleaning procedure is included in dockage.

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.