Quality of Canada Western Red Spring wheat in 2023
This report presents harvest quality data for Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat grown in 2023. Wheat samples were submitted to the Canadian Grain Commission’s Harvest Sample Program by producers. Quality data is compiled from the results of analytical tests performed in the Grain Research Laboratory.
Canada Western Red Spring
CWRS is the largest class of wheat grown in western Canada. CWRS is well known for its excellent milling performance, having high flour yield, low ash, and minimal protein loss from wheat to flour during milling. Flour milled from CWRS wheat has high protein content, strong yet extensible dough properties, and very high water absorption. These characteristics make it ideal for the production of high-volume pan bread. Due to its high protein and good gluten strength, CWRS wheat is used extensively, either alone or in blends with weaker wheats, for the production of a diverse range of products such as hearth breads, flat breads, steamed breads, and noodles.
Summary of CWRS quality in 2023
The quality of CWRS was excellent, with more than 97% of the crop in the top two grades. The majority of samples graded No. 2 were downgraded due to levels of hard vitreous kernels (HVK) below 65%. Mean protein content was 13.8%, slightly above the ten-year average of 13.7%. The crop was safe and sound, with more than 99.6% of CWRS samples having DON levels less than 1.0 ppm and 80% of samples having FN values greater than 350 seconds. AAC Brandon was the top CWRS variety grown in 2023 but declined in acreage as newer varieties, such as AAC Starbuck and AAC Wheatland, increased.
Figure 1 Top CWRS varieties grown in western Canada from 2019 to 2023
Graph data
% of total
Variety
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
AAC Brandon
42
42
38
32
29
AAC Viewfield
6
12
14
14
13
AAC Starbuck
0
0
4
9
12
AAC Wheatland
0
0
3
8
13
CDC Landmark
7
8
7
5
4
AAC Elie
7
6
5
4
4
Figure 2 Grade distribution and grading factors for CWRS as of November 27, 2023 (based on 2964 samples)
Graph data
% of samples
No. 1
No. 2
≤ No. 3
Feed
Grade distribution
67.6
28.8
2.9
1.1
Hard vitreous kernels
0
24
0
0
Mildew
0
2.9
0
0
Sprouted
0
2.5
0
0
Figure 3 Mean protein content (13.5% mb, %) in CWRS from 2014 to November 27, 2023
Graph data
Protein, %
Year
%
2014
13.4
2015
14.1
2016
13.6
2017
13.1
2018
13.7
2019
13.6
2020
13.4
2021
14.7
2022
13.9
2023
13.8
Milling and functional quality
The milling performance and functional quality of CWRS was very good this year. The crop was sound and all aggregate wheat samples had wheat FN values greater than 350 seconds. The flour Amylograph peak viscosity was above 550 BU for the No. 1 milling grade and 470 BU for the No. 2 milling grade. The test weight was slightly lower than in 2022 and is related to the dry growing conditions this year in some areas of the Canadian prairies. Despite this, all CWRS aggregates had very strong milling yields on the Bühler laboratory mill, reaching 76% or higher (clean wheat basis).
Wheat ash was lower than last year, particularly for the No. 1 milling grade, eastern prairies aggregates. Flour ash was slightly lower in all CWRS aggregates. Colour was similar to last year, with slightly brighter L* values. Farinograph absorption was similar to 2022 for all CWRS aggregates. Dough strength increased in 2023 compared to 2022, as measured by Farinograph stability, Extensograph Rmax and bake test mixing energy, while maintaining excellent extensibility. Bake tests showed good loaf volumes.
Protein content (%)Footnote 4, all grades, CWRS as of December 19, 2023
Province
Number of samples
Mean
SD
Manitoba
693
13.8
1.1
Saskatchewan
1499
13.6
1.2
Alberta and B.C.
1083
14.0
1.4
Western Canada
3275
13.8
1.3
Protein data by grade and crop region
Ten crop regions in western Canada were designated for Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat based on similarity of environmental characteristics within each region. Consideration was given to directional movement, political boundaries and production (seeded area) in choosing these regions. In addition, areas with a low level of production were grouped with larger production areas to ensure sufficient sample volume for analysis.
Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) crop regions
Text description
Region 1: south western Manitoba
Region 2: central western Manitoba
Region 3: south eastern Manitoba
Region 4: south eastern Saskatchewan
Region 5: south western Saskatchewan
Region 6: central eastern Saskatchewan
Region 7: central western Saskatchewan
Region 8: southern Alberta
Region 9: central eastern Alberta
Region 10: northern Alberta
Protein content (%)Footnote 4, No. 1 CWRS as of December 19, 2023
Region
Number of samples
Mean
Standard deviation
1
300
13.8
1.1
2
102
13.8
0.9
3
119
14.5
0.8
4
208
13.6
1.2
5
112
14.4
1.3
6
396
13.8
1.0
7
247
13.9
1.2
8
275
14.8
1.2
9
294
14.0
1.1
10
128
14.0
1.2
Protein content (%)Footnote 4, No. 2 CWRS as of December 19, 2023
Grading factors present (%) in Canada Western Red Spring wheat from all provinces as of December 19, 2023
Samples
No. 1 CWRS
No. 2 CWRS
No. 3 CWRS
Feed
Number of samples
2183
973
50
72
% of total
66.6
29.7
1.5
2.2
Grading factor
No. 1 CWRS
No. 2 CWRS
No. 3 CWRS
Feed
Broken (BKN)
0.0
2.3
10.0
19.4
Contrasting classes (CON CL)
0.0
0.5
0.0
0.0
Dark immature (DKIM)
0.0
0.0
2.0
0.0
Ergot (ERG)
0.0
0.0
0.0
19.4
Frost (FR)
0.0
4.1
12.0
2.8
Fusarium damage (FUS DMG)
0.0
0.9
0.0
0.0
Green (GR)
0.0
0.1
0.0
1.4
Grass green kernels (GRASS GR)
0.0
0.2
0.0
0.0
Hard vitreous kernels (HVK)
0.0
83.7
0.0
1.4
Immature (IM)
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.0
Midge damage (MDGE)
0.0
1.3
0.0
1.4
Mildew (MIL)
0.0
8.7
8.0
0.0
Matter other than cereal grains (MOTCG)
0.0
0.8
2.0
2.8
Non-registered variety (NON REGV)
0.0
0.0
0.0
13.9
Natural stain (NSTN)
0.0
0.0
2.0
0.0
Rotted kernels (ROT KRNL)
0.0
0.0
0.0
1.4
Ruptured (RUP)
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.0
Severely sprouted (SEVSPTD)
0.0
5.8
32.0
29.2
Sawfly damage (SFLY DMG)
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.0
Shrunken kernels (SHR)
0.0
0.0
0.0
4.2
Total foreign material (TFM)
0.0
2.1
24.0
12.5
Total shrunken and broken (TSHRBKN)
0.0
0.1
0.0
1.4
Total sprouted (TSPTD)
0.0
3.3
18.0
8.3
Test weight (TWT)
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.0
Wheat of other classes (WOOC)
0.0
0.0
2.0
0.0
Deoxynivalenol (DON) data
Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a mycotoxin that can be found in grain infected with Fusarium head blight. DON is not an official grading factor listed in the Canada Grain Regulations or the Official Grain Grading Guide. Instead, the Canadian Grain Commission uses the visual assessment of Fusarium damaged kernels as a proxy for DON.
Even if DON isn’t an official grading factor, it may be included as a contract specification in grain transactions. The Canadian Grain Commission provides DON results to producers who participate in the Harvest Sample Program.
Figure 6 Distribution of deoxynivalenol values for CWRS as of November 27, 2023
Graph data
Distribution of deoxynivalenol values for CWRS as of November 27, 2023
DON (ppm)
%
< 0.3
82.7
0.3 to 1.0
17.0
> 1.0
0.3
Deoxynivalenol (DON) values (ppm) in Canada Western Red Spring wheat as of December 19, 2023
DON (ppm)
Number of samples
% of total
Below limit (< 0.3 ppm)
2661
80.49
0.3 to 1.0
635
19.21
1.1 to 2.0
10
0.3
2.1 to 3.0
0
0
3.1 to 4.0
0
0
4.1 to 5.0
0
0
5.1 to 6.0
0
0
Above limit (> 6.0 ppm)
0
0
Total samples
3306
100
Falling Number (FN) data
Falling Number (FN) results are an indicator of sprout damage in wheat. FN is not an official grading factor listed in the Canada Grain Regulations or the Official Grain Grading Guide. Instead, the Canadian Grain Commission uses the visual assessment of sprouted and severely sprouted kernels as a proxy for FN.
Even if FN isn’t an official grading factor, it may be included as a contract specification in grain transactions. The Canadian Grain Commission provides FN results to producers who participate in the Harvest Sample Program.
Figure 7 Distribution of Falling Number values for CWRS as of November 27, 2023
Graph data
Distribution of Falling Number values for CWRS as of November 27, 2023
Falling Number
% of samples
> 351
79.4
301 to 350
14.9
251 to 300
4.1
< 250
1.5
Falling Number values (seconds) in Canada Western Red Spring wheat as of December 19, 2023
