Pooling in Australia

[hobbyfrmr]

wmoebis, you are correct. Producers really should get their uniform bin samples of wheat tested for PROTEIN AND FALLING NUMBER. Farmers in western Canada have left a fortune on the table for years because the let the buyer tell them what they have.
When I was 14 years old loading grain for the family farm, I would watch all the farmers deliver and the game of bullshit poker that would follow. It was very odd.

[wmoebis]

Here is another thing! It's called human error! Elevators are very busy places with a lot on the go all at once.

How many farmers watch to make sure that assessment and numbers are done accurately?

Example: protein machines read out moist and protein. The grader runs sample through, while he is doing dockage or assessing damage, he turns and glances at machine to get readings: actual reading: 12.5 MT, 13.5 Pro. Another farmer walks in he chats, the phone rings or fellow employee comes on radio to ask question, grader is distracted while multi tasking, someone else dumps sample and numbers dissapears off machine. Grader writes down 13.5 MT 12.5 Pro. accidentally, or the best of recollection. Go to the PRO and see how much you just lost on 1% protein.

Now take that check to the bank and cash it. If the teller makes a mistake and is even on dime short, (human error) you are going to check her up on it. It happens and the teller are giving you ussually thier undivided attention.

How many know what pans are suppose to be weight out of carter dockage tester to assess dockage? Or if elevator does it right. Do they weight the % dockage or clean grain and divide % dockage. More chance for human error and miss representation of sample. Are you double checking calculations and assessment like you did at the bank? If they are out .25 of 1% on a rail car that = about $60 on a rail car, would you leave that on the tellers desk, when you cash the check?

I trust my bank teller and I trust my grain graders but double check both for human error. Graders know what they are doing but they make mistakes and inaccurate assessments that could cost you a lot. They are only human.

People will tell you that it will average out, next time you might get the break. Would you walk away from the bank being shorted or over paid, and have the same comforting feeling?

Equipment is all checked for accuracy by head offices, the CGC, or wieghts and measures It is up to producers to check the operators for accuracy.

Mistakes and human error happens more than you think. Most graders will thank you when you catch a problem, they want to be accurate, but things happen.

[malleefarmer]

you said grader writes down??? Surely
grading in canada at all elevators is
electronic no manual stuff presume your
kidding me its 2012 weve had no manual
grading here since about 95

[wmoebis]

Although computor capability is there, the vast majority (if not all) of the protein testers and hand scales are not hooked to the elevator computor programs or have any print out. The results are either entered manually into program immediately or documented to be entered later. The % is either calculated by hand/calculator or in some cases done buy the computor program based on weights entered by grader.

The CGC's and export terminals programs are all protein and scale friendly and used, but not at most primary elevators. Not sure about mills and malt houses. Truckers/farmers usually get a truck scale print out of truck and unload weights. I'm not sure if all truck scales are automaticaly entered into computor or have to be entered by hand.

When elevators are unloading 100-200 trucks a day, at times while shipping up to 100 cars, there is going to be mistakes and it is sometimes up to us to catch and bring them to attention.

[wmoebis]

The % calculated and entered manualy I am refering to is dockage and any hand picks.

[TOM4CWB]

Mallee,

Our grading system is 'special' just like the CWB 'single desk' was...

Complex... hard to understand... kept that way...

[jcv]

Was just down to elevator in North
Dakota, while they have falling number
testing machines, they haven't used them
in several years, so not really a
grading factor for wheat. Lots of
somewhat different discounting factors,
but in the end fairly similar to the CGC
standards. They don't incision much
Canadian grain coming there way, and are
within 20 miles of the border.

[malleefarmer]

Our local elevator handles 400 trucks plus

7 am to 8 pm all computerized 4 weigh bridges

Sampled and test goes on docket via computer
the grin is unloaded and truck goes to another
weigh bridge driver leans out window inserts
original docket and it spits out load weights.

Farmer then can access bulk grain Handler
website usually 20 minutes after and will find load
and grading there and then farmer is free to
transfer grain to which ever buyer he wants
website or cn warehouse his grain and not sell
and this information cn be either disclosed or
undisclosed to buyers.

Buyers know total tonnes and grades at each site
is updated daily.

Don't even need to speak to buyers another
system is basically eBay for grain set our price
and forget if it gets a hit your notified and ou ever
know who buyer is buyers never know ho seller is
and money is held in a clearing house before
transfer of grain occurs ie if buyer doesn't pay to
clearing house farmer doesn't transfer to clearing
house risk free called clear grain.com.au

[TOM4CWB]

Mallee,

Our system is bascically a visual reference system for the actual grade determinants.

We are different on protein and moisture than everyone else in the world... (different standards) because we are special and smarter than everyone else here in Canada; at the Canadian GRAIN Commission.

We use audits instead of computer print outs.

[wmoebis]

Mallee: If I understand you right the grader is not necesssarily the buyer? IE: third party.

Here our graders are the buyers or agent of the buyer. Unless we pay for a third party inspector and in that case only the CGC'S grade assessment is binding.

Most farmers leave it up to the buyers/graders to tell them the quality of their grain.

[charliep]

Below is my call of the land on the protein pricing in the new world. One major brain fart/seniors moment (may be others) but hopefully captures some ideas. Sorry for taking off topic malleefarmer but saving posting another story series.

[URL="http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/newslett.nsf/all/cotl19816"]Call of the Land Aug 15[/URL]

[malleefarmer]

wmoebis correct 100% grading is done by
third party.
grading is supposedly uniform across
australia quite a few farmers have the
own infratec sofia protien moisture
testers same as elevator system so they
know what they have before it goes to
the elevator and for on farm blending.

If youve got the acres and tonnes to
warrant it a cheap investment think
there around the $18,000 mark and much
cheaper if you go to denamrk and buy one
direct