Official Grain Grading Guide
Buckwheat: Determination of dockage
Definition
Dockage is assessed and recorded to the nearest 0.1%.
Dockage is defined under the Canada Grain Act as “any material intermixed with a parcel of grain, other than kernels of grain of a standard of quality fixed by or under this Act for a grade of that grain, that must and can be separated from the parcel of grain before that grade can be assigned to the grain”. Dockage is removed by following the cleaning procedure described in this chapter.
The sample as it arrives is referred to as the uncleaned or dirty sample. Its weight is the gross weight of the sample. Dockage is assessed on the gross weight of the sample.
Dockage is assessed in two stages.
- Follow the Normal cleaning procedure, using the Carter dockage tester.
- Follow the procedure for Cleaning for grade improvement. This cleaning can be done at any time after the cleaning assessment has been completed.
Dockage not reported
Important: Dockage is not reported for
- Buckwheat, Sample Canada (size) Account Fireburnt
- Buckwheat, Sample Salvage
- Buckwheat, Sample Condemned
- Unofficial samples declared as processed
Assessing dockage in small buckwheat
Normal cleaning procedure
Important: Wear gloves and a mask to handle any samples that you suspect may contain hazardous substances.
Buckwheat is considered small when more than 20.0% of the kernels pass through the numberNo. 8 slotted sieve.
- Set up the Carter dockage tester as follows:
Set up the Carter dockage tester Feed control #6 Air control #6 Riddle numberNo. 25 Top sieve numberNo. 6 buckwheat Centre sieve numberNo. 5 buckwheat Bottom sieve numberNo. 5 buckwheat Sieve cleaner control Off - Using a Boerner-type divider, divide the uncleaned sample to obtain a representative portion.
- Official samples shall be at least 1 kg.
- Unofficial samples shall be at least 1 kg.
- Turn on the Carter dockage tester.
- Pour the sample into the hopper.
- After the sample has passed through the machine, turn on the sieve cleaner control briefly to dislodge kernels.
- Turn off the Carter dockage tester.
- Snap the retainer rod of the aspiration pan lightly to loosen material gathered on the screen.
- Determine dockage, using the list under composition of dockage.
Composition of dockage
- Material other than whole kernels of buckwheat removed by the numberNo. 25 riddle
- Material removed through the bottom numberNo. 5 buckwheat sieve
- Material removed by aspiration other than whole sound kernels of buckwheat
- Soft earth pellets handpicked from the clean sample
- Material removed by Cleaning for grade improvement
Commercially clean
Samples exiting primary elevators are defined as commercially clean when the net dockage does not exceed 2.5% of the sample weight
Any whole domestic buckwheat removed in dockage assessment is returned to the clean sample. Dockage is reduced by up to
- 0.3% for fine attritional material which passes through the numberNo. 4.5 round-hole sieve
- 0.5% for broken or hulled buckwheat removed by aspiration or passing through the numberNo. 5 buckwheat or the numberNo. 6 slotted sieve
Cleaning for grade improvement
If the grade of a delivery can be improved by additional cleaning, perform the cleaning and add the additional material to dockage. Cleaning for grade improvement can be done at any time after the cleaning assessment has been completed, including on export.
- After the cleaning assessment has been completed, examine the material to be removed and select your equipment according to the material you want to remove. See the table Cleaning for grade improvement—Small buckwheat for the list of equipment.
- Sieve the sample by hand using the numberNo. 6 buckwheat hand sieve.
Important: When using a hand sieve, move the sieve from left to right 30 times, in a steady motion. One complete motion is approximately 10 cm from the center to one side, back to the center, approximately 10 cm to the other side and back to the center.
- Weigh the additional dockage and add it to the original dockage.
| Material to be removed | Equipment | Effect on composition of dockage |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign material | numberNo. 6 buckwheat hand sieve | The material passing through the sieve is included in the dockage |
Assessing dockage in large buckwheat
Normal cleaning procedure
Important: Wear gloves and a mask to handle any samples that you suspect may contain hazardous substances.
Buckwheat is considered large when 20.0% or less of the kernels pass through the numberNo. 8 slotted sieve.
- Set up the Carter dockage tester as follows:
Set up the Carter dockage tester Feed control #7 Air control #6 Riddle None Top sieve numberNo. 15 round-hole Centre sieve numberNo. 6 slotted Bottom sieve Blank tray Sieve cleaner control On - Using a Boerner-type divider, divide the uncleaned sample to obtain a representative portion.
- Official samples shall be at least 1 kg.
- Unofficial samples shall be at least 1 kg.
- Turn on the Carter dockage tester.
- Pour the sample into the hopper.
- Turn off the Carter dockage tester.
- Determine dockage, using the list under composition of dockage.
Composition of dockage
- Material other than whole kernels of buckwheat passing over the numberNo. 15 round-hole sieve
- Material passing through the numberNo. 6 slotted sieve
- Material removed by aspiration other than whole sound kernels of buckwheat
- Soft earth pellets handpicked from the cleaned sample
- Material removed by Cleaning for grade improvement
Commercially clean
Samples exiting primary elevators are defined as commercially clean when the net dockage does not exceed 2.5% of the sample weight.
Any whole domestic buckwheat removed in dockage assessment is returned to the clean sample. Dockage in shipments is reduced by up to
- 0.3% for fine attritional material which passes through the numberNo. 4.5 round-hole sieve
- 0.5% for broken or hulled buckwheat removed by aspiration or passing through the numberNo. 5 buckwheat or the numberNo. 6 slotted sieve
Cleaning for grade improvement
If the grade of a delivery can be improved by additional cleaning, perform the cleaning and add the additional material to dockage. Cleaning for grade improvement can be done at any time after the cleaning assessment has been completed, including on export.
- After the cleaning assessment has been completed, examine the material to be removed and select your equipment according to the material you want to remove. See the table Cleaning for grade improvement—Large buckwheat for the list of equipment.
- Sieve the sample by hand using the numberNo. 8 slotted hand sieve.
Important: When using a hand sieve, move the sieve from left to right 30 times, in a steady motion. One complete motion is approximately 10 cm from the center to one side, back to the center, approximately 10 cm to the other side and back to the center.
- Weigh the additional dockage and add it to the original dockage.
| Material to be removed | Equipment | Effect on composition of dockage |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign material | numberNo. 8 slotted hand sieve | The material passing through the sieve is included in the dockage |
Optional analysis
Where a shipper requests special cleaning of a carlot of grain at a terminal elevator, and the elevator manager agrees, dockage material will be analyzed for the presence of grain. The percentage and grade of any grain contained in the dockage will be reported.
Procedure
- Analyze the official sample.
- Record the following on inspection records:
- The percentage by gross weight to the nearest 0.1% and the grade of buckwheat.
- The percentage by gross weight to the nearest 0.1% and the grade of grain separable from dockage.
- The percentage of dockage.
Example
- 95.0% Buckwheat, numberNo. 1 Canada
- 4.0% Domestic Mustard Seed, numberNo. 1 Canada Oriental
- 1.0% dockage