With farmers preparing to bring in this year's crop, they are being reminded to take part in the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) annual harvest sample survey.

The CGC's chief grain inspector Randy Dennis says farmers submit an sample in the specified envelope the commission provides, and in return they receive an unofficial grade as well as quality information on their sample.

"We will prepare data packages that will basically illustrate, based on the harvest sample program, what we see as the percentages of number one, two, and three, Red Spring as an example in the durums, and whether it's barley or pulses, we provide that information through some various seminars for the international buyers, as well as the domestic buyers, so they have a good idea of the quality of product that is in Canada for the particular year," says Dennis.

Dennis says the wet weather and hail we've seen this year is expected to result in some down-grading, although he adds they won't know the full extent until they receive more harvest samples.