Load sampling

[wmoebis]

Does everyone stand there on every load and make sure the elevator is taking an accurate sample and the protien machine is reading and read accurately and that the proper dockage is being assessed and the grade is being applied for proper reason with the proper reasons?

Or am I the only one?

[bucket]

Actually I usually rub the protein machine like a slot machine and talk to it knowing full well its a crap shoot for protein. I don't know why those things are off in the corner. Farmers paid for them and it should be in full view for the producer. I check dockage occassionally.

[wmoebis]

protien machines are not crap shoot they are what I am accepting payment on. They maybe off in the corner for a reason, possably out of way but I always ask to take a look at results ON MACHINE.

I always make sure that the sample is a good representative sample of load, not just a random grab sample. Make sure the sample passes through the borner divider to thoughly mix. Swirling of hand in pail don't cut it with me.
Check the machine that it is calibrated right.
Make sure what shows on machine is what is written down and what you are actually paid for.

[checking]

I've never asked this of a grain buyer, but would you know, wmoebis, if mistakes are made at the elevator, do those benefits flow back to the elevator company on Board grains? Or does everyone in the pool get to share your misfortune, and therefore there is really no company reason for an employee to screw with testing equipment, or write down a false reading?

[wmoebis]

To my knowledge!!!
Grain is integrated into faciity and recorded as shipable stocks. Any grade differences/ protien or dockage is assumed by company. There will be variables both on the plus and negative side and in theory should equal out.
I have asked this question many times. How does my grain sold on initial pymt. as a #2 then blended back into #1 by grain company make it"s way back into the #2 account for interm and final pymts.

Under the Canadian Grain Act grain can ony be blended by terminal elevators with consent of the CGC. This way the CWB and the CGC has record of where the grain is moved and can move commodities in book work.

The new high thoughputs, in my mind ARE terminals, they even tout themseves as being so. But get to play by different rules, as being primary elevators, and can blend on thier own to make shipment grades.

I believe that it is very important that we as producers know how to assess our own quality of grain or have third party do it for us.

I see most famers know what tools to use to produce high quality and quantity crops. Chem, fert, best machinery and farming practices available. But then don't have a clue as to what they have growen and take buyers word on what they have.

Maybe it is just me, but this seems absured. I for one, know everything about my grain before it is offered for sale then see who can blend it up to help me or who has stocks that could use my factor room to help them and what they will do for me to get it.

[parsley]

<p></p>
<p class="EC_style8ptBK"><strong>[URL="http://parsleysnotebook.blogspot.com/2009/04/cgcs-defeated-need-for-change-for.html"](how soon we forget)[/URL]</strong></p>

[charliep]

Parsley will have noted my lack of participation in the thread on traceability (maybe mine). the start of this process (traceability) would be for a farmer to know what they have in the bin on both quality and consumer desired traits. The next part is recording in an organized fashion and sharing.

Watched an interesting show on Larry King live (CNN) about food safety with a highlight on ecoli. Livestock for a number of different reasons is having to move to full traceability. Sampling and recording are key elements of this.

[ado089]

Accurate bin samples are quite possible the most important thing you can do on your farm. At minimum 3 copies of that sample should be taken. One for your long term records for dispute resolution, one to go to the grain commision for independant grading so you know what you're actualy dealing with, then at least one sample for every company you want to shop that grain to. It doesn't take much, we vaccume pack our long term samples, one year usualy fits into a document box. Once you know what you have and what the buyers are offering you can start negotiating on grade, protein, trucking incentives...

Anyone who isn't doing this either has too much money or is an idiot. I've seen "offers" from the companies result in $7-35/mt more than the lowest offer.

[parsley]

charliep, I did notice you had gone missing. lol

I just assumed everyone took a sample of their grain! Three or four.

Vacum packed is dandy!

One Zip lock bag permanently stored for reference, wound with duct tape and the date combined, crop variety, field# storage bin, written on with a marker, are good. Can't open them unless you absolutely need to for reference. File according to year.

Fill one and keep in the glove compartment of your half ton. You never know where you end up, so have a sample handy.

Get a protein reading. Saudi Arabia bought all 14%. Maybe you can blend a little at home to bring your protein up to speed if it's better on one field than another. A falling number test if you want to make a bit more money from wheat that will make good bread.

Smell. Make note of it. Tell your buyer to note it.

Pars

[Hopperbin]

I take samples while filling bins with a scoop from the truck evenly timed to get average sample, keep samples of every bin in a plastic pail sometimes if moisture is changing I have more than one pail per bin as I like to know where the wet stuff is. I drop in a note with moisture, bin #, and anything else of importance like field location, temp. of grain etc. When the company reps come out to check my samples they like what they see. I don't bag in ziplock so my grain moisture falls in the pails over time, but I already have moisture written on the note. My protein checks come out quite well, with what is hauled in and I can guess quite well what the dockage should be if any on a load. My samples are usually kept until next harvest when I need the pails again. Works well for me.