AFSC only accepts the receipted grade on sales from buyers that have a primary elevator or terminal elevator license from the CGC.

Grain buyers can be licensed in several classes by the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) and the requirements differ for each grain class. Only in the terminal elevators and primary elevator classes are the licensees required to sample upon receipt and resolve grade and dockage issues through the CGC.

The following link shows the class of license for the individual grain companies www.grainscanada.gc.ca.

If grain is sold to a grain dealer, private buyer or process elevator before an AFSC on-farm inspector (OFI) performs a post-harvest inspection, AFSC may use the client’s samples based on the following conditions:

1. Clients need to contact their AFSC branch office and obtain approval to collect samples for AFSC grading purposes prior to the grain being removed. If clients do not receive approval before the grain is removed, AFSC will use the designated grade of the grain.

If grain is sold directly off the field:

  • if the sample is acceptable, AFSC will grade it and use the actual grade.
  • if the sample is not acceptable, AFSC will use the designated grade of the grain.If grain is sold from the bin and there is a minimum of 400 bushels remaining in the bin, OFI will compare the client’s sample to the grain in the bin to determine if the sample is acceptable:
  • if the grain sample is acceptable, it will be graded accordingly.
  • If the sample is not acceptable, a new sample will be taken from the bin.
  • if the sample is not acceptable and there are less than 400 bushels remaining in the bin, AFSC will use the designated grade of the grain. If the bin is being emptied, or if there will be less than 400 bushels remaining, clients can contact their branch prior to moving the grain for AFSC to come sample the grain before it is moved.

2. If approval is obtained, AFSC must receive a representative grain sample per truckload if sold off the field, or per bin. Sampling requirements are as follows:

  • Grain must be collected in a five-gallon pail that preserves moisture content, maintains sample integrity, and keeps out rodents and insects.
  • The sample needs to be obtained intermittently, such as while the grain is loaded into trucks for sales directly from the field or from each truck while unloading into bins.
  • Samples are to be stored in a manner acceptable to AFSC, and represent the quality of the crop that was sold.If a client saves a sample and AFSC determines that it is unrepresentative, AFSC will assign the grain its designated grade.For more information about this process, visit a local branch, send an email to info@afsc.ca or call 1.877.899.2372.