The Canadian Grain Commission is updating grading procedures for durum, wheat and lentils for the 2026-27 crop year, with changes aimed at better aligning Canada’s grain quality assurance system with end-use quality and buyer expectations.
The changes, which take effect Aug. 1, follow consultations with grain sector stakeholders and recommendations from the Western and Eastern standards committees, said a CGC release on Wednesday.
For wheat and durum, the wheat chapter of the Official Grain Grading Guide will be revised to include updated procedures, definitions and photo reference material for several grading factors. These include darkened and severely darkened kernels in Canada Western Amber Durum, severe midge and penetrated smudge in amber durum, and smudge and penetrated smudge across all wheat classes.
The commission said its research showed darkened kernels have far less impact on durum semolina quality than kernels affected by severe midge damage. Grading changes were first introduced in November 2025 to better reflect true end-use quality, and those changes are now being added to the grading guide.
According to the commission, the updates are already benefiting Canadian producers by reducing unnecessary downgrading at delivery, while also helping exporters meet customer grade requirements.
The commission is also removing contrasting classes as a grading factor in red lentils, effective Aug. 1, and updating the definition for contrasting colours. The change addresses new red lentil varieties recommended for registration that have seed coat colours different from traditional red lentils.
Under the new approach, red lentils with different seed coat colours will be assessed as a contrasting colour rather than a contrasting class. The commission said this will help reduce the mixing of lentils with different cotyledon colours or significantly different seed coat colours, supporting the needs of buyers of Canadian lentils.
