Barley: Grading

Important definitions

Net weight of sample

The sample after cleaning and removal of dockage is referred to as the cleaned sample. Its weight is the net weight of the sample. Percentages by weight for grading refer to percentages of the cleaned sample, the net weight.

Hazardous substances in samples

Wear gloves and a mask to handle any samples that you suspect may contain hazardous substances. Hazardous substances are defined in section 1 of the Canada Grain Regulations as “any pesticide, desiccant or inoculant”.

Rounding rules

Rounding rules are outlined in schedule 3 of the Canada Grain Regulations. official inspection results are expressed numerically, they should be expressed to the same decimal precision as the applicable tolerance in the primary and export grade determination tables.

Processed sample

An unofficial sample of grain declared to be conditioned or cleaned to meet end user specifications, and whereas, the determination of dockage and/or determination of commercially clean are not performed or reported.

Food barley

The selection of barley for food purposes is the responsibility of selecting companies. Each individual company has their own selection criteria and specifications. All barley selected for food purposes will be graded according to the specification list in the Barley Canada Western (CW) / Canada Eastern (CE) food primary and export grade determination tables.

Malting barley

The selection of barley for malting purposes is the responsibility of selecting companies. Each individual company has their own selection criteria and specifications. All barley selected for malting purposes will be graded according to the specification lists in the Barley CW / CE malting primary and export grade determination tables.

Producer deliveries

Once barley has been selected for malting purposes, if there is a disagreement on the assessment of any factors listed under Characteristics of malt barley, the Canadian Grain Commission, upon request will perform an analysis of the disputed factor. A representative portion of not less than 1000 grams of the unload will be forwarded to the Canadian Grain Commission along with a request in writing (form I-106 in western Canada or I-107 for eastern Canada) specifying which factors are to be analyzed.

Characteristics of malt barley

• Peeled and broken
• Other cereal grains
• Sprouted
• Wild oats
• Barley of other types
• Total foreign material
• Plump and thin
• Protein

Note: Specific tolerances are set by the selecting company.

Non-registered varieties

A registered variety refers to varieties of crops that have been granted variety registration in Canada. Species, kinds or types of crops subject to variety registration in Canada are listed in Schedule III of the Seeds Regulations. Not all crops are subject to registration. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is responsible for the registration of varieties in Canada. Consult the CFIA’s database of varieties registered in Canada online to determine if a given variety is registered in Canada.

Where grain of any kind is not a registered variety under the Seeds Act, no person shall, except with the permission of the Canadian Grain Commission, assign a statutory grade to that grain which is higher than the lowest grade established by regulation for that kind of grain.

Representative portion for grading

All grading is done on representative portions divided down from the clean sample, using a Boerner-type divider.

The optimum representative portion is the representative sample size within the minimum and maximum range used to obtain the most accurate result when assessing an objective factor. It is determined by taking into consideration the tolerance and concentration of the objective factor being assessed.