Deliveries to grain dealers or associated agents
When you deliver grain to a licensed grain dealer or agent in western Canada, the following procedures apply.
Condition of grain
The grain dealer or agent accepts or does not accept your grain at their discretion. If you are delivering grain to a grain dealer or agent at a licensed primary elevator, delivery may be refused if grain is
- infested or contaminated
- out of condition, or likely to go out of condition
Declaration of eligibility for delivery
When you deliver grain to a licensed grain company in Canada, you must complete a declaration of eligibility for delivery of grain (PDF) form. This declaration is required by the Canada Grain Act.
The declaration is required for all deliveries of grains designated under the Canada Grain Act that are listed in the Kinds of Grain that Require a Declaration of Eligibility for Delivery of Grain (PDF) document. More information is available in our answers to frequently asked questions.
Weighing and sampling
The grain dealer or agent weighs your grain. If you are dealing with the grain dealer’s agent, the agent takes a sample of your grain to represent the entire load. Consider asking to look at the sample to make sure you agree that this sample accurately represents your delivery.
Dockage determination
Dockage is material that must be removed before the grain dealer or agent assigns a grade or determines moisture and/or protein.
The grain dealer or agent must use equipment that is a type authorized by the Canadian Grain Commission for determining dockage. The Canadian Grain Commission recommends that grain dealers or agents use a sample size of 1 kilogram when determining dockage. Dockage is:
- removed by following the cleaning procedures described in the Official Grain Grading Guide
- computed to the nearest 0.1%
Grading
The grain dealer or agent assesses your grain’s grade, dockage, moisture and, in some cases, protein, according to the procedures and specifications in the Official Grain Grading Guide and/or your contract, if you have one.
If you deliver a variety of wheat or malt barley that is not on a variety designation list, the grain dealer or agent assigns the lowest grade for that type of grain.
The right to dispute grade and dockage for your grain by requesting a Final Quality Determination is not available at licensed grain dealers or their associated agents. This right only applies to grain deliveries made to primary elevators.
Payment
The grain dealer gives you either a grain receipt or cash purchase ticket.
If grain ownership transfers to the licensed grain dealer when you deliver it, you are issued a grain receipt.
If you have sold your grain and are paid on delivery to a licensed grain dealer, you are issued a cash purchase ticket.
In order to be paid, you must exchange your grain receipt for a cash purchase ticket.
If you have trouble getting paid, contact the Canadian Grain Commission immediately.
Licensed grain dealers must post security with the Canadian Grain Commission to cover amounts owed to producers for grain deliveries. If a licensed company fails to pay you for your grain delivery, you have the right to compensation through the Safeguards for Grain Farmers Program.