September 6, 2017 | Kris Cherewyk

Grain Sampling for Quality Analysis

Throughout the course of the growing season it was discussed how Seed Hawk technology leads to a crop known for its high quality and yields, in all soil types and conditions. It is during this time of the year, with harvest in full swing, that the full results of utilizing the right tool for the job becomes obvious – in the form of grain being brought in from the field.

As grain is harvested, it’s extremely important to properly sample it for quality grading and analysis. Most grain handling facilities require growers to take good representative samples of all their cereal crops before delivery, as quality control standards become even more strict.

To determine the quality of the grain in individual bins (or bags, etc.), and to minimize the chances of surprises during future grain deliveries, proper grain sampling procedures should be utilized for all crops. Even canola should be sampled in case quality issues arise.

Materials required for grain sampling are as follows: a grain sample pail, sample bags and a sample scoop. Grain companies often provide these materials free of charge to growers. As grain is being unloaded, take a consistent number of scoops per load and dump them into the pail. Once the bin is full, mix the pail full of sampled grain to ensure the pail accurately reflects the quality of the entire bin. Next, pour the grain into sample bags (one for each grain company you’ll be working with) and label the bags accordingly. Elevator staff often require the following information: grower name, phone number, bin name/number, crop variety and amount of bushels the sample represents.

This information is very important to both grain companies and farmers, as it allows for better grain marketing on both sides. Most importantly, from a quality perspective, it is the sample grade that determines which seeding system produces the most profitability. Seed Hawk has consistently hauled in quality crops for a generation and we look forward to seeing more great results this fall.