Changes to some of Canada's grain grading classifications will take effect on Monday.

As of August 1, there will be two new wheat classes: Canada Northern Hard Red (CNHR) and Canada Western Special Purpose. In addition, Canada Western Feed, Canada Western General Purpose, and Canada Western Interim wheat classes will be eliminated. Randy Dennis, the chief grain inspector with the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC)explains why the CGC is making these changes.

"As a result of concerns that have been raised by both domestic and international customers, the CGC and industry as a whole has looked to see what kind of changes need to take place so that customers will continue to have confidence in Canadian grain, and wheat specifically. The challenge that had been identified was gluten strength, which was very concerning to various markets," he says.

Dennis says these grading changes will result in somewhat of a segregation in gluten strength.

"So the (Canada Western Red Spring) will have a higher gluten strength than this other class (CNHR)," he explains, "and it's not to diminish in any stretch whatsoever about this new class having quality. It absolutely does have quality and it's got quality parameters that would be specific to certain end-users."

AC Crystal will be one of the wheat varieties to join the CNHR class down the road, with this designation taking effect in 2019.

The Official Grain Grading Guide, including the new primary grade determinant tables, will be posted on the CGC's website on Friday.