The big deep freeze

[TOM4CWB]

Alberta is getting it tonite!

Not even predicted by weather forcasters... hmmmm

Low of 4 predicted and it is 1 @11pm

[wd9]

I wonder if on Monday the markets will realize a bit of a weather rally?

[agstar77]

Free markets always reflect poor crops and weather problems??

[TOM4CWB]

Agstar77,

The lack of a falling number test in CGC grading is costing us untold millions as farmers.

The CWB could insist and it would be a criteria instantly.

Every cargo leaving Canada has a falling number done for years now.

Why not farmer's grades?

a little frost, drought damage, or rain does not have to mean our wheat is "Feed" as the CDN visual system instantly makes it. We have the worst of all worlds.

[rosco]

Tom, How long to do a falling number test on wheat? How big of a sample is needed? The line up at the concrete tombstone in Killam is bad enough already!!
Rosco

[GrainVac]

Falling numbers using the traditional grind and water takes about 20 minutes, there is current testing being done to use the same technology as protein testing to provide a faster answer but is limited right now to predicting a fairly broad range of what the real number is. CGC site has somwe good info on this topic. I suspect that if it ever comes it will be on a bin sample basis with rechecks like malt barley deliveries. Generally entire areas are either good, borderline or terrible. I'm told by my elevator guy that there are no blending opportunities either as a 350FN and a 250FN do not average 300 but come out more like 260-270. Something about a non-linear relationship, just like my costs of production and my revenue!. Sounds like more segregation, more paperwork, and more costs...anybody else know more?

[wd9]

What works in a lab environment, such as at the coast or at the Grains Laboratory in Winnipeg does not always work in an elevator. While the technology of RVA and Hagberg (two current methods of FN) are available, making them repeatable at the elevator will be the challenge.

Using RVA to determine alhpa amylase content in malt barley was demonstrated last year with promise to determine available length of storage, but, the sample still needs to go to the GRL.

The grain standard for this year will still use sprout content. Frustrating to many but the technology and cost to set up a lab environment will take some time to be a reality and acheive repeatability at the local elevator. It is NOT like doing a protein or moisture test.