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New tolerances for ergot, sclerotinia and Fusarium

May 23, 2014, Winnipeg, MB - Updated tolerances for ergot and sclerotinia for most classes of wheat take effect in Eastern Canada on July 1, 2014, and in Western Canada on August 1, 2014. As well, new tolerances for Fusarium-damaged kernels take effect for Barley, Canada Eastern/Western Food. The grade schedule for Oats, Canada Eastern will be updated to be a closer match to that of Oats, Canada Western. These changes are based on recommendations made to the Canadian Grain Commission by the Western Standards Committee and the Eastern Standards Committee at their meetings in April.

Quick Facts

• A tolerance of 0.5% for Fusarium damage in Barley, Canadian Eastern (CE) / Canadian Western (CW) Food.
• Updated tolerances of 0.04% ergot and 0.04% sclerotinia for all grades except feed in the following classes of Wheat, CW: Red Spring, Hard White Spring, Red Winter, Soft White Spring, Extra Strong, Prairie Spring Red, Prairie Spring White.
• Updated tolerances of 0.04% ergot and 0.04% sclerotinia for all grades except feed in the following classes of Wheat, CE: Red, Red Spring, Hard Red Winter, Hard White Spring, Soft Red Winter, Soft White Spring, Hard White Winter, White Winter.
• Updated tolerances of 0.02% ergot and 0.02% sclerotinia for No. 1 and No.2 Wheat, CW Amber Durum and No. 1 and No. 2 Wheat, CE Amber Durum.
• Updated tolerances of 0.04% ergot and 0.04% sclerotinia for No. 3 and No. 4 Wheat, CW Amber Durum and No. 3 Wheat, CE Amber Durum
• Currently, the ergot tolerance for Canadian wheat varies depending on the grade and class of wheat. Most classes have an ergot tolerance of 0.01% for No. 1 and 0.02% for No. 2, while Extra Strong, Prairie Spring White and Prairie Spring Red have an ergot tolerance of 0.03% for No. 1 and 0.06% for No. 2. Although the new tolerances are wider for many classes, they are marginally tighter than Codex Alimentarius standards (international standards related to food), This means that more wheat may be eligible for delivery into higher grades without compromising safety.
• Revised grade schedule for Oats, CE to bring CE and CW grade schedules closer together.

May 23, 2014  By Canadian Grain Commission