Farmers who don’t think they’re getting a fair shake on protein now have a place to turn for help.
Under new rules that went into effect
Aug. 1, the Canadian Grain Commission has the final word on the protein content of wheat delivered to primary elevators.
Farmers can now ask for binding arbitration from the commission to resolve protein disputes on deliveries of CW red spring, amber durum, extra strong and red winter wheat. A fee of $15.10 will apply.
But at least one farm organization is unhappy with the new system, saying it will mainly benefit grain handlers.
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“Rather than displease the grain companies, they’re cutting them some slack and that’s going to cost farmers some money,” said Darrin Qualman, executive secretary of the National Farmers Union.
Farmers are paid for each one-tenth of a percentage point change in protein content.
However, farm groups have long criticized the accuracy of protein tests conducted at country elevators, saying samples from the same crop often get widely different results at different elevators. Grain company officials say that on average, their machines are accurate to within two-tenths of a percentage point.
Grain commission spokesperson Paul Graham said disagreements over protein content are to be expected.
“Protein testing is not an exact science,” he said, noting that running the same sample through the same machine several times can produce a variety of results.
Throw into the mix different brands of machines, people with differing abilities conducting the tests, and the range of environmental and climatic conditions under which tests are run and it’s really no surprise that protein measurements vary widely.
Under the new system, the grain company’s result will stand as long as it is within 0.4 percentage points of the CGC’s test. In other words, if a company assigned a protein level of 13 percent, that would be the official result as long as the grain commission’s test came in at anywhere from 12.6 to 13.4 percent.
Qualman describes that policy as “a gift to the grain companies.”
He thinks the protein payment should be based strictly on the commission’s result, as it is with factors like grade and dockage.
“If the CGC has the facility to read protein more accurately than the country elevator, then that should be taken as final and there’s no need to give them the gift of 0.4 percent.”
Graham said an analysis of results from grain companies’ protein testers indicated that the 0.4 percent spread was appropriate.
There have also been concerns expressed that grain companies could calibrate their machines to gain a financial advantage from the commission’s error allowance.
“There is a possibility that could be done,” Graham said.
“But we’ll be monitoring all the test results closely and if there are any systematic attempts to miscalibrate equipment it will be readily apparent, and we will deal with them.”
