Know Your Grade: Producer Protections

​​​​​​With public health orders in place, your experiences marketing and delivering crops this harvest may be different than what you've come to expect. Despite the changes, one thing that remains the same is producer protections. Producer protections exist to ensure farmers are paid for grain del​ivered, receive a credible grade and dockage assessment, and have access to a second opinion if warranted.

Farmers' access to the grading room and general movement throughout a grain handling facility may be restricted by public health rules and this may complicate your ability to observe representative sampling and the grade and dockage assessment of your grain. Ask the elevator representative what process is in place and/or whether an alternative method is available to ensure you remain part of this process.

If you do not agree with the grade assessment, farmers (or the person delivering your grain) have the right to request a second opinion at delivery. Ask the elevator operator to send a representative sample to the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) for a "subject to inspector's grade and dockage determination". A 1000-gram sample will be sent to the nearest CGC service centre and a final grade will be assessed. The elevator will issue payment based on that final grade.

Learn more about what delivery protections exist.

Know what you have in your bin

Harvest Sample kits are now available from CGC and samples are accepted until November 30. This service, free to farmers, provides both insight into your grain's quality and data to assist with marketing the 2020 crop. Participating canola farmers receive an unofficial grade, as well as dockage and oil, protein and chlorophyll (green) content. If you want to know even more about your grain, the CGC and third-party inspection companies provide more comprehensive services for a fee.​

Register for the CGC Harvest Sample Program to receive your free kit.

Want to learn more?  KnowYourGrade.ca provides up-to-date information on sampling, dockage and grading canola, as well as your producer rights.​