Quality of Canada Western Amber Durum in 2023

This report presents harvest quality data for Canada Western Amber Durum (CWAD) wheat grown in 2023. Wheat samples were submitted to the Canadian Grain Commission’s Harvest Sample Program by producers. Quality data is compiled from the results of analytical tests performed in the Grain Research Laboratory.

Canada Western Amber Durum

CWAD is the second largest wheat class grown in Western Canada. CWAD is used in a wide variety of products, including long and short dried pasta, fresh pasta, sheeted pasta, couscous and baked bread. CWAD has superior milling quality, producing high semolina yield with low ash content and speck count. It also has the high yellow pigment content necessary to produce end-products with a bright-yellow colour. The high protein content and strong gluten characteristics of CWAD ensures superior pasta cooking quality and good performance in durum bread.

Summary of CWAD quality in 2023

The quality of CWAD was excellent, with more than 80% of the crop in the top two grades. Test weight was the main downgrading factor for No.2 due to the dry growing conditions experienced in some durum growing regions this year. Mean protein content was 14.8%, slightly higher than in 2022 and significantly higher than ten-year average of 14.1%. The crop was safe and sound, with more than 97% of CWAD samples having DON levels less than 1.0 ppm and 85% of samples with FN values greater than 350 seconds. Transcend was still the top variety grown in 2023 but new varieties, such as AAC Stronghold, AAC Grainland and CDC Defy, have increased in acreage in recent years and Transcend acreage is gradually decreasing.

Grade distribution

No. 1 and No. 2 CWAD:
82.4%

More information

Protein

Protein content:
14.9%

More information

Deoxynivalenol (DON)

DON < 1.0 ppm:
97.8%

More information

Falling Number (FN)

FN > 351 seconds:
86%

More information

Variety

Top varieties:

Transcend
CDC Precision
AAC Stronghold
CDC Defy

Figure 1 description to follow — **Figure 1** Top CWAD varieties grown in western Canada from 2019 to 2023

% of total
Variety	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
Transcend	42	39	35	32	29
CDC Precision	13	16	16	16	14
Brigade	11	10	8	8	6
AAC Spitfire	9	9	8	7	5
CDC Alloy	3	4	7	7	6
AAC Stronghold	1	2	7	8	9
AAC Grainland	0	0	4	4	6
CDC Defy	0	0	0	2	8

Figure 2 description to follow — **Figure 2** Grade distribution and grading factors for CWAD as of November 27, 2023 (based on 750 samples)

% of samples
	No. 1	No. 2	No. 3	≤ No. 4
Grade distribution	50.8	31.3	12.9	4.9
Test weight	0	17.1	5.7	0
Hard vitreous kernels	0	9.6	2.9	0

Figure 3 description to follow — **Figure 3** Mean protein content (13.5% mb, %) in CWAD from 2014 to November 27, 2023

Protein, %
Year	%
2014	12.9
2015	14.0
2016	12.7
2017	13.6
2018	14.3
2019	14.0
2020	13.8
2021	15.7
2022	14.6
2023	14.8

Milling and functional quality

CWAD had a strong milling performance this year, as well as high yellow pigment content and superior processing quality. It had excellent hard vitreous kernel (HVK) levels across all grades, with 95% in No.1 CWAD. Test weight and weight per thousand kennels were comparable to 2022, with No. 3 having a slightly lower test weight. The CWAD 2023 crop was sound and all aggregate samples had wheat FN values greater than 350 seconds. Wheat ash content was significantly lower than last year across all grades.

Prairie aggregates of all milling grades had good milling performance with high semolina yields, low speck count and large granulation. Semolina ash was lower for No. 1 and slightly lower for No.2 compared to last year. Rheological tests demonstrated strong and balanced gluten properties based on gluten index and Alveogram parameters. The pasta produced from semolina milled from 2023 CWAD had excellent bright yellow color with high firmness and superior cooking quality across all grades.

Alternate version
Harvest quality data for CWAD, prairie aggregates in 2023 (PDF, 456 KB)

Prairie aggregates, No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 CWAD^{Footnote 1}

Prairie aggregates are from Saskatchewan and Alberta (regions 12 to 15 on the crop region map).

Wheat
Quality parameter	2023			2022
Quality parameter	No. 1 CWAD	No. 2 CWAD	No. 3 CWAD	No. 1 CWAD	No. 2 CWAD	No. 3 CWAD
Test weight, kg/hL	81.3	79.4	78.7	81.6	79.9	80.7
Weight per 1000 kernels, g	37.2	36.8	37.4	39.3	36.9	36.6
Vitreous kernels, %	95	86	78	93	91	81
Protein content, %	14.7	14.6	15.0	14.2	15.3	14.2
Ash content, %	1.44	1.51	1.55	1.62	1.67	1.65
Falling Number, seconds	438	428	379	506	443	433
Durum particle size index, %	36.8	36.2	37.0	33.8	36.4	34.8
Cadmium content, mg/kg	0.067	0.068	0.063	0.076	0.076	0.070

Milling - Allis-Chalmers Mill
Quality parameter	2023			2022
Quality parameter	No. 1 CWAD	No. 2 CWAD	No. 3 CWAD	No. 1 CWAD	No. 2 CWAD	No. 3 CWAD
Total milling yield, %	73.2	72.4	71.6	74.3	73.3	74.1
Semolina yield, %	65.9	65.5	64.9	66.3	65.0	65.6

Semolina^{Footnote 2}
Quality parameter	2023			2022
Quality parameter	No. 1 CWAD	No. 2 CWAD	No. 3 CWAD	No. 1 CWAD	No. 2 CWAD	No. 3 CWAD
Protein content, %	14.0	14.0	14.2	13.1	13.7	13.0
Protein loss, %	0.7	0.6	0.8	1.1	1.6	1.2
Wet gluten content, %	34.7	33.5	34.5	32.3	33.6	32.2
Gluten index, %	80	79	72	79	75	77
Ash content, %	0.72	0.75	0.77	0.75	0.76	0.74
Yellow pigment content, ppm	10.8	11.0	11.4	11.0	11.2	11.0
Yellowness, b*	33.2	33.0	32.5	34.1	33.2	33.0

Granulation
Quality parameter	2023			2022
Quality parameter	No. 1 CWAD	No. 2 CWAD	No. 3 CWAD	No. 1 CWAD	No. 2 CWAD	No. 3 CWAD
> 425 µm, %	8.1	8.6	8.6	7.0	7.0	7.1
> 250 µm, %	60.0	60.1	58.5	62.9	61.0	62.0
> 180 µm, %	18.5	17.5	17.7	18.3	18.1	18.3
> 150 µm, %	6.2	6.1	6.3	5.6	5.8	5.6
< 150 µm, %	7.2	7.6	9.0	6.2	8.1	6.9

Semolina speck count per 50 cm²
Quality parameter	2023			2022
Quality parameter	No. 1 CWAD	No. 2 CWAD	No. 3 CWAD	No. 1 CWAD	No. 2 CWAD	No. 3 CWAD
Total specks	8	11	14	9	9	17
Dark specks	1	3	2	1	2	3
Large specks (≥ 0.06 mm²)	3	5	7	4	3	8

Alveogram^{Footnote 3}
Quality parameter	2023			2022
Quality parameter	No. 1 CWAD	No. 2 CWAD	No. 3 CWAD	No. 1 CWAD	No. 2 CWAD	No. 3 CWAD
P (maximum over pressure), mm H₂O	94	96	98	9	90	81
L (length), mm	87	83	82	96	101	98
P/L	1.08	1.16	1.20	0.93	0.89	0.83
W (deformation energy), 10^-4 joules	245	243	242	243	257	226
le (elasticity Index), %	48.3	47.9	47.1	48.3	49.4	48.1

Spaghetti colour dried at 85°C
Quality parameter	2023			2022
Quality parameter	No. 1 CWAD	No. 2 CWAD	No. 3 CWAD	No. 1 CWAD	No. 2 CWAD	No. 3 CWAD
Brightness, L*	71.1	70.4	69.8	72.5	71.7	71.8
Redness, a*	7.2	7.8	8.5	5.5	6.2	6.0
Yellowness, b*	64.0	64.0	63.7	66.5	67.0	66.7

Spaghetti texture dried at 85°C
Quality parameter	2023			2022
Quality parameter	No. 1 CWAD	No. 2 CWAD	No. 3 CWAD	No. 1 CWAD	No. 2 CWAD	No. 3 CWAD
Peak cutting force, g	697	680	676	574	578	573
Dry strand diameter, mm	1.71	1.71	1.71	1.71	1.69	1.70
Cooked strand diameter, mm	2.53	2.53	2.53	2.54	2.53	2.53

Protein data by grade and by province

Figure 4 description to follow — **Figure 4** Distribution of protein content (13.5% mb, %) in CWAD from 2021 to November 27, 2023

% of samples
Protein range, %	2021	2022	2023
< 12.0	3.85	10.02	6.93
12.0 to 12.9	4.09	15.49	7.20
13.0 to 13.9	10.55	18.17	15.73
14.0 to 14.9	16.00	21.16	20.40
> 15.0	65.51	35.16	49.73

Protein content (%)^{Footnote 4}, No. 1 CWAD as of December 19, 2023
Province	Number of samples	Mean	SD
Manitoba	4	NS^{Footnote *}	NS
Saskatchewan	315	14.7	1.5
Alberta and B.C.	74	15.1	1.2
Western Canada	393	14.8	1.4

Protein content (%)^{Footnote 4}, No. 2 CWAD as of December 19, 2023
Province	Number of samples	Mean	SD
Saskatchewan	189	14.7	1.9
Alberta and B.C.	54	15.4	1.6
Western Canada	243	14.8	1.9

Protein content (%)^{Footnote 4}, No. 3 CWAD as of December 19, 2023
Province	Number of samples	Mean	SD
Saskatchewan	81	14.7	2.1
Alberta and B.C.	22	NS^{Footnote *}	NS
Western Canada	103	14.9	2.2

Protein content (%)^{Footnote 4}, No. 4 CWAD as of December 19, 2023
Province	Number of samples	Mean	SD
Saskatchewan	16	NS^{Footnote *}	NS
Western Canada	16	NS	NS

Protein content (%)^{Footnote 4}, No. 5 CWAD as of December 19, 2023
Province	Number of samples	Mean	SD
Saskatchewan	19	NS^{Footnote *}	NS
Alberta and B.C.	4	NS	NS
Western Canada	23	NS	NS

Protein content (%)^{Footnote 4}, all grades as of December 19, 2023
Province	Number of samples	Mean	SD
Manitoba	4	NS^{Footnote *}	NS
Saskatchewan	620	14.7	1.8
Alberta and B.C.	154	15.3	1.5
Western Canada	778	14.8	1.8

Protein data by grade and crop region

Four crop regions in western Canada were designated for Canada Western Amber Durum (CWAD) based on similarity of environmental characteristics within each region. Consideration was given to directional movement, political boundaries and production (seeded area) in choosing these regions. In addition, areas with a low level of production were grouped with larger production areas to ensure sufficient sample volume for analysis.

Description to follow — Canada Western Amber Durum (CWAD) crop regions

Protein content (%)^{Footnote 4}, No. 1 CWAD as of December 19, 2023
Region	Number of samples	Mean	Standard deviation
12	151	14.6	1.5
13	144	14.8	1.5
14	20	NS^{Footnote *}	NS
15	74	15.1	1.2

Protein content (%)^{Footnote 4}, No. 2 CWAD as of December 19, 2023
Region	Number of samples	Mean	Standard deviation
12	75	13.8	2.3
13	100	15.3	1.5
14	14	NS^{Footnote *}	NS
15	54	15.4	1.6

Protein content (%)^{Footnote 4}, No. 3 CWAD as of December 19, 2023
Region	Number of samples	Mean	Standard deviation
12	33	13.9	2.4
13	42	15.4	1.7
14	6	NS^{Footnote *}	NS
15	22	15.7	2.3

Grading factor data

Producer samples submitted to Harvest Sample Program are graded based on the Official Grain Grading Guide. Data below summarizes the occurrence and frequency of wheat grading factors. Downgrading of wheat can be due to 1 or more grading factors present in the sample.

Grading factors present (%) in Canada Western Amber Durum wheat from all provinces as of December 19, 2023

Samples	No. 1 CWAD	No. 2 CWAD	No. 3 CWAD	No. 4 CWAD	No. 5 CWAD
Number of samples	393	243	103	16	23
% of total	50.5	31.2	13.2	2.1	3.0

Grading factor	No. 2 CWAD	No. 3 CWAD	No. 4 CWAD	No. 5 CWAD
Broken (BKN)	5.3	6.8	0.0	21.7
Ergot (ERG)	0.0	4.9	0.0	8.7
Excreta (EXCR)	0.0	0.0	0.0	4.3
Frost (FR)	0.4	0.0	0.0	0.0
Fusarium damage (FUS DMG)	0.0	8.7	0.0	8.7
Hard vitreous kernels (HVK)	31.3	23.3	62.5	0.0
Midge damage (MDGE)	2.5	0.0	0.0	0.0
Mildew (MIL)	3.3	2.9	6.3	0.0
Matter other than cereal grains (MOTCG)	0.4	1.0	0.0	4.3
Natural stain (NSTN)	0.4	1.0	0.0	0.0
Severe midge damaged kernels (SEVMDGE)	4.9	5.8	0.0	4.3
Severely sprouted kernels (SEVSPTD)	2.9	6.8	0.0	0.0
Shrunken kernels (SHR)	0.0	1.0	0.0	39.1
Smudge damage (SM)	0.8	1.0	0.0	0.0
Total foreign material (TFM)	1.2	0.0	6.3	0.0
Total Shrunken and Broken (TSHRBKN)	0.8	0.0	0.0	0.0
Total sprouted (TSPTD)	2.1	1.0	0.0	4.3
Test weight (TWT)	53.9	43.7	12.5	4.3
Wheat of other classes (WOOC)	6.2	5.8	31.3	8.7

Deoxynivalenol (DON) data

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a mycotoxin that can be found in grain infected with Fusarium head blight. DON is not an official grading factor listed in the Canada Grain Regulations or the Official Grain Grading Guide. Instead, the Canadian Grain Commission uses the visual assessment of Fusarium damaged kernels as a proxy for DON.

Even if DON isn’t an official grading factor, it may be included as a contract specification in grain transactions. The Canadian Grain Commission provides DON results to producers who participate in the Harvest Sample Program.

Figure 5 description to follow — **Figure 5** Distribution of deoxynivalenol values for CWAD as of November 27, 2023

Distribution of deoxynivalenol values for CWAD as of November 27, 2023
DON (ppm)	%
< 0.3	72.8
0.3 to 1.0	25.0
> 1.0	2.3

Deoxynivalenol (DON) values (ppm) in Canada Western Amber Durum wheat as of December 19, 2023
DON (ppm)	Number of samples	% of total
Below limit (< 0.3 ppm)	566	72.29
0.3 to 1.0	199	25.42
1.1 to 2.0	8	1.02
2.1 to 3.0	6	0.77
3.1 to 4.0	2	0.26
4.1 to 5.0	1	0.13
5.1 to 6.0	1	0.13
Above limit (> 6.0 ppm)	0	0
Total samples	783	100

Falling Number (FN) data

Falling Number (FN) results are an indicator of sprout damage in wheat. FN is not an official grading factor listed in the Canada Grain Regulations or the Official Grain Grading Guide. Instead, the Canadian Grain Commission uses the visual assessment of sprouted and severely sprouted kernels as a proxy for FN.

Even if FN isn’t an official grading factor, it may be included as a contract specification in grain transactions. The Canadian Grain Commission provides FN results to producers who participate in the Harvest Sample Program.

Figure 6 description to follow — **Figure 6** Distribution of Falling Number values for CWAD as of November 27, 2023

Distribution of Falling Number values for CWAD as of November 27, 2023
Falling Number	% of samples
> 351	86.1
301 to 350	7.0
251 to 300	4.5
< 250	2.4

Falling Number values (seconds) in Canada Western Amber Durum wheat as of December 19, 2023
Falling Number (seconds)	Number of samples	% of total
> 450	261	33.38
401 to 450	258	32.99
351 to 400	151	19.31
301 to 350	56	7.16
251 to 300	37	4.73
201 to 250	13	1.66
151 to 200	2	0.26
101 to 150	3	0.38
61 to 100	1	0.13
60	0	0
Total samples	782	100

Footnotes

Footnote 1

Data are reported on a 13.5% moisture basis for wheat and a 14.0% moisture basis for semolina, except Alveogram results which are reported on a 15% moisture basis.

Return to footnote 1 referrer

Footnote 2

Semolina analysis is conducted using granular products with a constant extraction rate of 70%.

Return to footnote 2 referrer

Footnote 3

Alveogram results from the Chopin Alveolab.

Return to footnote 3 referrer

Footnote 4

Protein content is determined using near-infrared spectroscopy calibrated against the Combustion Nitrogen Analysis reference method and is expressed as Nitrogen x 5.7, on a 13.5% moisture basis.

Return to footnote 4 referrer

Footnote *

NS = Not sufficient. Insufficient number of samples to generate a representative value.

Return to footnote * referrer

Page details

2023-12-20

Quality of Canada Western Amber Durum in 2023

Canada Western Amber Durum

Summary of CWAD quality in 2023

Grade distribution

Protein

Deoxynivalenol (DON)

Falling Number (FN)

Variety

Milling and functional quality

Prairie aggregates, No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 CWAD^{Footnote 1}

Protein data by grade and by province

Protein data by grade and crop region

Grading factor data

Grading factors present (%) in Canada Western Amber Durum wheat from all provinces as of December 19, 2023

Deoxynivalenol (DON) data

Falling Number (FN) data

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Quality of Canada Western Amber Durum in 2023

Canada Western Amber Durum

Summary of CWAD quality in 2023

Grade distribution

Protein

Deoxynivalenol (DON)

Falling Number (FN)

Variety

Milling and functional quality

Prairie aggregates, No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 CWADFootnote 1

Protein data by grade and by province

Protein data by grade and crop region

Grading factor data

Grading factors present (%) in Canada Western Amber Durum wheat from all provinces as of December 19, 2023

Deoxynivalenol (DON) data

Falling Number (FN) data

Page details

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Prairie aggregates, No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 CWAD^{Footnote 1}