The Western Grain Elevator Association is warning that scores of elevators could be plugged and thousands of farmers lose a lot of money if last fall’s sprout-tainted grain can’t be moved into and through the system before Aug. 1.
That’s when new, tougher standards for sprouted wheat will be enacted.
“We have a very large concern because of what may happen,” said Ed Guest, the association’s executive director.
“It’s expected that there’s going to be a lot of it. You’re affecting the dollars and cents return to farmers in a big way.”
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The Canadian Wheat Board requested the tougher limits because a number of customers have complained about the high-sprout level in wheat they have received.
Sprouted wheat reduces starch content, affecting what is known as the falling number. Affected wheat absorbs less water, forcing processors to use more wheat to make the same amount of bread, plus producing bread with big air pockets.
The Canadian Grain Commission has approved the tolerance reduction.
Number one Canadian Western Red Spring wheat is unaffected. But Number two CWRS will be allowed a total of one percent sprouted, down from 1.5 percent. Number three will be allowed three percent sprouted, down from five percent.
The amount of severely sprouted has not changed.
Guest said the dollar downgrade from number two to number three, or three to Canada Feed, is substantial.
Dropping from two to three could mean a loss of $31.30 per tonne. Dropping from three to feed could mean a loss of $40 per tonne.
Guest said farmers should move their sprouted grain into the elevator system as soon as they can because it could flood in within the next two weeks, plugging elevators and making it difficult to deliver.
Farmers shouldn’t expect the Aug. 1 deadline to be extended. They should also not try to sneak in sprouted grain late.
“I expect we’ll have a fairly large rush before Aug. 1 and probably a fairly large rush in the first few days of August when guys are going to be wanting elevator managers to do things they’re not allowed to do,” Guest said.
He also warned farmers not to blend sprouted grain with unsprouted. A small amount of sprouted grain can easily pollute a clean load.
Guest said the elevator association hopes the wheat board can find buyers for sprouted grain soon to stop the system from plugging. With the new crop less than two weeks away, pressure on the system will soon build.
Wheat board spokesperson Justin Kohlman said this year’s situation is unusual.
“Typically we don’t have a problem with this.”
However, the tolerances had to be changed because enough customers were becoming upset to threaten Canada’s reputation for grain quality.
“It did impact on the competitiveness of Canadian grain,” Kohlman said.
Guest said he doesn’t know how much sprouted grain is out there, but the signs are bad.
“We think there’s a lot.”
