CGC at it again

[stubblejumper]

Talked to the local elevator manager about this problem. He is also a farmer who has not received payment for red's already shipped to western grain. They gave him the same story so he phoned CGC and was told it is all BS,

[gustgd]

Mustard Not sure who you think I am but No my father has never been in politics. Unless you count a short stint as a RM councilman(more of a public service). My family have always been farmers. I was going to say /business people, but it seemed redundant.

[JDGreen]

yes stubble the cgc is denying any changes. I phoned them and got the same response. However both companies i dealt with were having the same color issues with grading. Cars that were shipped as a #2 were regraded X3 and 3 in port vancouver. Everyones eyes but the cgc's are failing this year apparently. I'm gonna have to get me some of them good socialist, unionized government type eyeballs too I guess. ;-)

[dave4441]

Stubblejumper-this is a real problem and CGC does not want to admit it. Yellow pea grades will soon start to be hit in the country as companies are having #2 yellow peas downgraded to #3 on arrival in Vancouver. This is real and of course the CGC is saying nothing has changed as they do not have the power to change grades unless the western standards votes for the change. This is all about interpretation. If you do not think it is real ask the line companies if yellow pea grades are being affected right now.

[sumdumguy]

As a shipper to international clients, and as experience has taught me, cook up some of each quality brought to me at harvest. I want a realistic 'grade'. Some discolored-some loose coat-some wrinkled- some frozen. I look at the cooked product. I compare my results with the 'grades' that are coming back from the CGC and SGS. Does the 'grade' reflect the true product? After a few tests, I have an idea what the result is. The proof is in the pudding, not in some obscure subjective grade. I have to satisfy my customer or else I'm in big trouble. I buy what I can sell, not
unlike any department store. I have decided not to forward sell what I can not see. In my opinion, when companies forward-sell, all is fine if the crop comes off in good shape, but a few times in the past, that has not been the case- and then the pressure is squarely on the seller. He is caught between the farmer and the buyer. I could buy and ship like a demon, but if the buyer complains and asks for a regrade - what then?

Not only do I grow Lentils, I sell Lentils. I understand your dilemma JD Green, but experience has taught me that caution is my best option, especially at the beginning of the season. Just my perspective.

[pulse72]

After speaking to SGS, I feel they are just towing the line.
They are a strong enough voice and an establihed enough company to make a stand.
I know they grade according to CGC standards, but CGC says the standards haven't changed.
They should stick to their guns and keep calling #2 reds #2 reds.

[JDGreen]

i understand sumdum very well what you are saying. However does not change the fact they are having this little peeing match as a result of color variation. It has nothing to do with damage, frost, wrinkles, loose coats, ascochyta, mold, mildew, etc. Just color. If i do the little cooking test they are all equal, hence my concern.. I believe we are too loose on damage in a #2 and this is where the problem has started.

[dave4441]

JD-If there was a problem with damage levels in a #2 that would be the issue. It is not damage levels that are of concern, strictly color. Color on a laird #2 is probaly too loose, not sure if that is what you are refering to.

[JDGreen]

dave we are in agreement on the color problem. What i mean by too loose on damage in a #2 is: Many samples have seeds that are wrinkled, loose coats,fragile,copper coated and will not be saved in the cleaning,splitting or futball process. The cgc has this part correct, however terminals and processors alike do not count all or any of this as damage as a rule. Sharp processors know this and steer away from these samples, however with so many of them around this year what is the solution?? These exact problems are what is causing the cgc to paint all reds with the same color brush. They are saying all bleached reds react the same way and this is the furthest from the truth. It is sample specific end of story. Therefore do we need to count these fragile seeds as damaged?? Or do processors need to add a damage surcharge and discount accordingly to the customer?? What I do know is that a discount of 8-10 cents a pound is ridiculous if only a 10%-15% reduction in splitting efficiency occurs. JMO

[dave4441]

Ok, sorry, you are on the money on this comment. Problem is the grades do not really take into account functionality of end use. I agree with that, but much study has to be done on this before it can be introduced as a grading standard. There is some real low damage reds, that will be powder during splitting, but generally a wrinkled lentil is low color which drops it right into a low quality product anyway, but i do get your comment now.