Changes are just around the corner for winter wheat producers in Western Canada.
A new grade – No. 3 CWRW – will soon be added to the Canadian Western Red Winter (CWRW) wheat class.
Samples with protein below 11 percent will automatically be graded No. 3, although the wheat could still be used for milling purposes if it meets other quality parameters.
Four grades were previously in the CWRW class: No. 1 CWRW Select, No. 1 CWRW Generic, No. 2 CWRW Select and No. 2 CWRW Generic.
The new grade will come into effect Aug. 1 for select and generic varieties.
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Daryl Beswitherick, an inspection specialist with the Canadian Grain Commission, said the changes are being introduced primarily for marketing purposes.
“Customers want it.… (They) are demanding higher protein,” he said.
Most winter wheat produced in Western Canada in a normal year would have protein levels of 11 percent or higher and would fall into one of the top two grades.
However, half of Western Canada’s production would have graded No. 3 last year because of poor growing conditions, a poor harvest and below average quality.
John Hopkins, a director with the Alberta Winter Wheat Producers Commission, said this year’s crop in southern Alberta looks good, but it is impossible to say how it will grade until it comes off the field.
Select varieties should easily meet the 11 percent protein threshold in a normal growing year, he said.
Hopkins said producers are still waiting to find out what type of price discount will be attached to crops that are graded No. 3.
“I would think that the discounts will be similar to what we see now between a select and a non-select variety.”
The grain commission, winter wheat commission and the Western Standards Committee agreed to the grading changes after consulting with producers, researchers and stakeholder groups.
The same groups also agreed to new fusarium limits that will reduce tolerances for fusarium damaged kernels in winter wheat to a maximum of 0.8 percent in No. 1 crop, one percent in No. 2 crop and 1.5 percent in No. 3 crop.
Crops with fusarium damaged kernels of 1.5 to four percent will be relegated to feed markets.
The new fusarium tolerances also take effect Aug. 1.
Previous tolerances for fusarium damaged kernels were one percent in No. 1 samples and two percent in No. 2 samples.
The new, more stringent tolerance levels more accurately reflect the relationship between fusarium damaged kernels and seed-borne toxins known as deoxynivalenol (DON).
Fusarium is not usually an issue in winter wheat in Alberta, but the new tolerances could have a significant impact on growers in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, especially in years with abundant moisture and humidity.
Jake Davidson, executive director of Winter Cereals Manitoba, said fusarium was a widespread problem in that province’s winter wheat crop last year.
It could also be a significant issue in 2011, he said.
“The people I’ve talked to have been spraying beyond belief but … it’s been wet so my guess is it will be an issue again,” Davidson said.
Manitoba producers will be eager to get their hands on recently registered winter wheat varieties that are rated R for fusarium resistance, he added.
However, it could be two to three years before they are available to commercial growers.
The commission also reminded growers that other key changes are in store for the CWRW wheat class.
Beginning Aug. 1, 2013, five varieties of winter wheat – all developed at the University of Saskatchewan’s Crop Development Centre – will be reassigned out of the CWRW class and into the Canada Western General Purpose (CWGP) class.
The varieties to be reclassified include CDC Kestrel, CDC Clair, CDC Harrier, CDC Raptor, and CDC Falcon, although the grain commission has indicated it will extend the transition period for CDC Falcon if new alternative varieties have not been identified by August 2013.
Falcon is the most popular winter wheat variety grown in Manitoba. It is ideally suited to growing conditions in that province and parts of southeastern Saskatchewan.
As well, distinctions between CWRW select and generic varieties will be eliminated in 2013.
Other CDC changes
The commission also announced other grading, deregistration and classification changes:
• Two varieties in the Canada Prairie Spring White (CPSW) class – Snowhite 475 and Snowhite 476 – were to be deregistered April 28, 2011, but the commission extended the period of eligibility until July 31. As of Aug. 1, the two varieties will be eligible for sale only as Canada Western Feed.
• The Canada Western Red Spring wheat variety Garnet will be deregistered Aug. 1, 2013.
• Flaxseed varieties CDC Mons and CDC Normandy will be deregistered Aug. 1, 2013. The varieties will then be eligible for sale only as No. 3 Canada Western flax.
