When it comes to grain, moisture matters – a lot! For sure grain price volatility is fuelled by many uncontrollable factors such as geopolitical conflict and climate change. But simply put, grain is sold by weight therefore moisture matters. Who wants to pay for extra water! Moisture also determines energy consumption required to dry grain for safe storage and moisture also affects quality. The Teagasc National Grain Monitoring Scheme provides an opportunity for those dealing in grain to have real confidence in their moisture results at the most critical time – harvesting. This is why 19 major companies take part each year, giving confidence to every measurement to a critical parameter affecting the bottom line.
Challenge: Standardising Moisture Analysis for Cost Effective Grain Trading
Grain is sold by weight, making moisture content a critical factor in determining its quality and value at intake. However, inconsistent moisture measurements across different intake points can lead to inaccurate pricing and disputes between producers and buyers. Ensuring uniform and reliable moisture level assessments across the grain trade during the harvest season is essential for fairness and quality control.
Solution: National Grain Quality Monitoring Scheme
Teagasc established the National Grain Quality Monitoring Scheme, which involves selecting raw grain samples of wheat, barley and oats from the current harvest. These samples are tested for moisture content in a central lab, from which standard samples are prepared and sent to participating members, who perform moisture analysis using their own equipment and standardised methods. This ensures accuracy of equipment and helps with training of seasonal staff.
Upon special request, larger, standardised test samples are also provided to members at the start of the harvest season to ensure calibration consistency across various moisture and protein methods. These are usually requested by larger companies who require consistency across all branches.
Impact: Driving Streamlined Pricing and Industry-Wide Consistency
The scheme guarantees accurate and consistent moisture measurements across the grain supply chain, ensuring producers receive fair prices reflective of their product’s true quality. This uniformity helps maintain trust between producers and grain buyers and supports market stability. Currently, nineteen companies actively participate in the scheme, reflecting broad industry commitment to quality assurance.
Nineteen leading companies across the grain trade sector currently subscribe to the National Grain Quality Monitoring Scheme, reflecting strong industry confidence in its value.
This broad endorsement highlights how the Scheme not only enhances technical accuracy but also strengthens collaboration and trust throughout the grain supply chain.
‘We have been using the grain monitoring scheme for many years. It is a vital part of the harvest system, allowing us to show growers that they can trust our standards which are aligned with the highest quality control procedures available’. – Frank Glynn, Branch Manager, Drummonds Ltd