Grading requirements changing

Ottawa is making further changes to grading standards for agricultural products, this time changing the requirements for peas and lentils.

Beginning August 1, only registered varieties of peas and lentils will be eligible for a “No. 1 Canada” grade. All other varieties will be eligible for nothing higher than “No. 3 Canada,” the lowest grade established by regulation.

The change reflects the fact that the majority of peas and lentils grown in Canada are now registered varieties.

While neither crop is widely grown in BC, approximately 3% of BC field crop production is devoted to peas. Peas and lentils were planted on nearly 49,300 acres in 2016, primarily in the Peace. Most of the harvest is exported.

The change follows a federal decision to change grade designations for honey.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency regulations that take effect in 2021 will eliminate “Canada” from the “No. 1” grade designation for honey.

While the new grading standards for peas and lentils aim to shut out non-registered product, the change to honey grades accommodates honeys that may include imported product.

All content on this website is copyrighted, and cannot be republished or reproduced without permission.

5 minutes ago

More than $30,000 was raised for the BC Youth in Agriculture Foundation at the annual Evening for Agriculture Celebration at the PNE, September 3. Guests could appreciate how their donations -- and the event itself -- supports agriculture when they saw the presentations of funds from the 2025 event to scholarship recipients, 4-H programs and BC Agriculture in the Classroom. Al DeJong of Maple Ridge was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement award for his decades of service to 4-H and -- by extension -- to the PNE's 4-H activities. DeJong has been involved with llamas in the 4-H community since the early 9#BCAg#BCAg ... See MoreSee Less

View Comments

Likes: 0
Shares: 0
Comments: 0

Comment on Facebook

2 days ago

... See MoreSee Less

Likes: 2
Shares: 0
Comments: 0

Forty-six regions in BC are eligible to participate in the federal livestock tax deferral program, announced yesterday, more than anywhere else in the country. The program allows producers who downsize their breeding herds by 15% to defer reporting the proceeds until the following year, when they buy replacement stock. But after multiple years of drought, the BC beef herd is cruising 25-year lows and some producers are calling for more support to maintain and rebuild their herds. For more, see: [www.countrylifeinbc.com/bc-leads-livestock-tax-deferrals/]

#BCAg ... See MoreSee Less

Likes: 23
Shares: 9
Comments: 0

6 days ago

After weeks and weeks of no moisture, there's rain in Kelowna today. While much more moisture is needed over the coming weeks and months to reduce drought conditions and the air smells of wet campfire, the slow, steady rain is very welcome for fruit grower#BCAg#BCAg ... See MoreSee Less

Likes: 7
Shares: 0
Comments: 0

1 week ago

The first Delta Farmland and Wildlife Trust Grassland Set-aside Variety Trial Field Day was held at Delta's family-owned Tecarte Farms, August 27. Co-owner Bill Bates and DFWT executive director Christine Schmalz welcomed more than 35 people to view seven acres planted to different grassland blends specifically chosen to rejuvenate the soil and support the farm's blueberries. For the Bates family, it was time to try something different following the decline of the field's blueberry bushes over the past several years. "We tried everything, and nothing worked," says Bates. The blueberries were removed in May and the grassland crops planted about a week later.

#BCAg ... See MoreSee Less