Digest-Sep2011_Aug22.pdf

GRADING TOLERANCES VERY LOW FOR HEATING No.1 Canada canola is allowed only 0.1 percent heated seed. Tolerances are 0.5 percent heated for No.2 and 2.0 percent for No.3. Anything above that is considered “sample”. The Canadian Grain Commission’s grading guide says “heated” refers only to seeds that are distinctly or badly bin-burned. Heated seeds are black or dark chocolate brown when crushed and may have a heated odour. Seeds that are light tan when crushed are “heated” if they have an odour or are in combination with dark brown or black seed. Light tan seeds are “damaged” (not considered heated) if they have no odour and are not in combination with other more severely damaged seed. s Left: The OPI-Integris moisture cable monitors moisture content and temperature of stored grain. Below: A solid core of burned canola in Bill Sandilands’ bin, Carstairs, Alberta.

When crushed, heated seeds are black or dark chocolate brown and may have a heated odour.

green counts are high or you have a sense that the bin is at risk, transfer the whole bin.” Electronic bin monitoring cables can detect rising temperatures within a 10-foot radius of the cable, providing an extra level of security. OPIsystems has a new bin cable that captures temperature as well as moisture by measuring the relative humidity in the air space between grain kernels. The grower enters the grain type into the monitor, and the monitor provides a seed moisture reading accurate to within 1.5 percentage points. You can use a handheld StorMax monitor to get these readings, or OPI’s new Integris system that sends alerts by email, text message or computer screen pop-up whenever grain temper- ature or moisture hits a programmed upper limit or changes too fast. IntegrisPro provides fan control, turning on aeration fans automatically when needed. Technology can help growers monitor stored canola, but whether growers go high tech or no tech, nothing can replace the peace of mind of turning over bins and monitoring regularly – especially if canola has green seeds or moisture above eight percent. s Jay Whetter is communications manager with the Canola Council of Canada.

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CANOLA DIGEST SEPTEMBER 2011