Category Archives: Grain Exporters

From Harvest to International Markets

At Barr-Ag, quality and consistency are at the heart of everything we do. We recognize that many factors play a role in crop quality, which is why our focus on careful handling and quality control at every stage. From the fields of Canada to farms around the world, every crop we handle, including hay, straw, grains, pulses, and corn, goes through a process designed to protect its value and meet the needs of our customers.

Hay: Cut, Cured, and Ready to Ship

The hay season typically runs from the end of June through September. The process begins with cutting the hay and allowing it to dry in the field before baling. Once baled, hay is stored in sheds to protect it from moisture and the elements. To ensure stable moisture levels and prevent heating or damage during shipping, hay undergoes a natural curing period of six to eight weeks after baling.

Throughout this process, we follow quality checks such as sampling and monitoring moisture levels to help preserve quality. After curing, hay is either pressed and prepared for shipping or dried in our dehy facility and pressed into bales or processed into pellets. These steps help Barr-Ag hay maintain its quality during transport and storage, providing dependable feed for livestock in many markets around the world.

Straw: From Swath to Storage

Straw harvest begins once grain crops are ready, typically from late August through October. Barr-Ag purchases straw directly from farmers in the swath, bales it, and transports it to our yard for storage in sheds. This helps maintain export standards, though in some cases straw is stacked in the field and hauled over the winter.

Grains and Pulses: Stored for Quality

In addition to hay and straw, Barr-Ag also handles grains, peas, lentils, and other crops. These are harvested in late summer to early fall and either sold directly to elevators or stored in bins. While fewer of these crops are exported, proper storage and regular quality checks are essential to maintain their condition and value.

Corn: From Chop to Silage

Corn is harvested differently from hay and straw. At Barr-Ag, chopped corn is hauled directly to our yard and packed into a large silage pit. The pit is continuously packed as loads arrive, ensuring efficient use of space and proper fermentation. Once all fields have been harvested, the pit is sealed with plastic and weighted with straw bales. The silage remains closed for at least 90 days before being opened, fluffed, and dried in our dehy facility. This process helps corn silage retain nutritional value for livestock feed.

A Variety of Products and Bale Types

Barr-Ag offers a range of bale types and weights for hay, straw, and processed crops. Customers can choose from traditional bales, pellets, or processed feed depending on their needs. Detailed product sheets are available for both domestic and international buyers.

Delivering Quality to Global Markets

Every step of Barr-Ag’s process, from harvest and curing to storage, production, and shipping, includes quality checks that help maintain consistency. While we cannot control every factor that affects crops, our goal is to do everything we can to protect quality and provide dependable products. By combining careful practices with modern facilities, Barr-Ag is proud to deliver Canadian crops that farmers around the world can rely on.

Partnering for Success: How Barr-Ag Supports Global Importers of Hay and Grain

In the dynamic world of hay and grain exports, finding the right partner is crucial for global importers seeking quality products and reliable supply chains. At Barr-Ag, we are a leading hay and grain exporter, established with a strong reputation for excellence and commitment to serving the needs of importers worldwide. In this article, we will explore how Barr-Ag supports global importers, offering exceptional products, tailored solutions, and a collaborative approach that sets us apart in the industry.

Uncompromising Quality: At Barr-Ag, quality is the cornerstone of our operations. Our team of experts work closely with farmers and suppliers to ensure that only the finest hay and grain products meet their stringent quality standards. From the fertile fields of Alberta, Canada, Barr-Ag sources premium crops with exceptional nutritional value, providing global importers with the peace of mind that they are receiving top-quality products.

Customized Solutions: Understanding that each importer has unique requirements, we offer customized solutions tailored to our customer’s specific needs. Whether it’s volume preferences, packaging specifications, or timely delivery schedules, we collaborate closely with our clients to design solutions that meet their individual demands. This flexibility and adaptability empowers importers to optimize their operations and drive their business success.

Transparent and Reliable Supply Chains: At Barr-Ag, we pride ourselves on maintaining transparent and reliable supply chains, ensuring a seamless flow of hay and grain from our farms to our customers. Leveraging our extensive logistics network and strategic partnerships, we carefully manage every stage of the supply chain to minimize transit times, preserve product quality, and meet delivery deadlines. Importers can trust in Barr-Ag’s commitment to efficiency and dependability, knowing that their products will arrive on time and in excellent condition.

Long-Term Partnerships: Barr-Ag believes in building long-term partnerships based on trust, mutual growth, and shared success. Our collaborative approach fosters open communication and a deep understanding of our customer’s evolving needs. By forging enduring relationships, we strive to become a true extension of our customer’s teams, working together to overcome challenges, seize opportunities, and drive sustainable growth in the hay and grain industry.

In conclusion, global importers seeking exceptional hay and grain products can rely on Barr-Ag as their trusted partner. With an unwavering commitment to quality, customized solutions, transparent supply chains, expert guidance, and a collaborative approach, Barr-Ag sets the stage for long-term success for farmers and suppliers. Partnering with Barr-Ag empowers importers to access the finest products, optimize their operations, and navigate the complexities of the industry with confidence.

GMO Wheat

While many people have heard the term “GMO,” some do not know what it really means. The acronym GMO stands for genetically modified organism. There has been plenty of controversy surrounding GMO wheat and other GMO foods, since many claim that they are unsafe to consume and negatively impact the planet. In fact, it is illegal to grow GMO wheat in Canada and the United States.

Wheat is one of the most widely consumed crops on our planet. It is used in bread, noodles, cereal, beer and several other products. Unfortunately, the supply of wheat can’t keep pace with the ever-expanding number of humans. Some believe that genetically modified wheat is the solution, since massive amounts can be grown in a short period of time compared to traditional wheat. Here’s a closer look at the pros and cons of this type of wheat.

Pros

GMO wheat can be grown in large volumes, since it is resistant to infections and parasites, which are major threats to conventional wheat. Proponents argue that we should opt to devote our limited farmland to this type of wheat, since it is highly efficient compared to relatively slow-growing traditional wheat.

Some argue that genetically modified wheat is of higher quality because it carries extra nutrients that boost the crop’s nutritional value. Scientists alter wheat’s genetics to make it much healthier to consume. It is also worth noting that this type of wheat can withstand some severe environmental conditions, including brutal cold spells and drought.

Cons

Humanity has yet to experience the long-term results of genetically modified wheat consumption, leading opponents to argue that it is potentially dangerous to human health. This type of wheat might have a negative impact on consumers’ bodies, but the real consequences are still unclear. Opponents believe that genetically modified wheat compromises antibiotic resistance and even affects allergies.

Those against GMO wheat also believe that it harms the environment. Arguments pertaining to GMO wheat’s negative environmental impact are extensive. Some state that this wheat causes a decline in biodiversity where a single crop emerges into dominance. Others say it is responsible for cross-pollination in which other crops are forcefully replaced.

There are also social consequences to genetically modifying wheat. Since improvements in GMO wheat are expensive to implement at this point, only wealthy farmers are able to take the GMO route.

Contact Barr Ag to get more information on any or our crops including Alfalfa and Timothy Hays, Mixed Hay, Canadian Grains and Pulse corps.

Genetically Modified Crops

Since 1994, GM foods have been permitted to be sold in Canada. Currently, Canada’s growing of genetically modified crops is limited to canola, soybean, corn and sugar beets of which most are exported to foreign countries. The country is one of the largest exporters of GMO crops in the world. Recently, field tests have begun on growing GM alfalfa in Ontario and Quebec that have raised concern over the probable contamination of Canada’s naturally grown alfalfa crop through cross pollination.

Appearance of Genetically Modified Crops

Genetically modified crops were first produced in 1982 and by 1986; the first field trials were done on tobacco for herbicide resistance. In 1994, the United States approved its first food crop, a tomato. Since then, GM crops have exploded in variety and availability.

Claimed Benefits of GMOs

GMO crops do have their advantages:

Because they have been engineered to be more drought resistant, they can be grown in borderline areas and places that might not have been usable previously.
They can provide more nutrients such as the vitamin A in rice exported to countries with poor populations and malnutrition issues.
There is also a larger yield per acre with some crops and they are much more resistant to disease, herbicides and insect infestation.

Why is There Concern over GMOs?

Much discussion has ensued over GM crops and whether they are environmentally safe. While the subject has been widely researched, there continues to be controversy over whether there has been enough proof found to be certain that GM crops are safe. It is not so much safety for human consumption, as it is safety for our environment.

The biggest issue appears to be cross-contamination of adjacent natural crops, which is almost impossible to control. Is this going to cause the eventual extinction of natural crops within a few decades? No one knows, as there has just not been enough long term research to determine what the outcome will be.

Contact Barr Ag to get more information on any of our crops including Alfalfa, Timothy, Mixed Hay, Canadian Grains and Pulse crops.

Exporting Canadian Grain – The Grain Handling System

The Canadian Grain industry is heavily regulated in Canada. That means customers from overseas can always be provided with reliable, consistent product. The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) is an agency of the federal government. It makes sure that all grain exported from Canada has been through the regulated grain handling system and has been officially certified.

Canadian grain such as oats, barley, wheat, and oil seeds are exported internationally and often travel great geographical distances. Although Canadian grain are transported in massive quantities, they are not stored in terminals. They are stored at farms that produced the grains. Then, when a certain kind of Canadian grain is wanted by an international customer, it is delivered from the farmer and moved into export position.

Canada’s Grain Handling System

Canada’s unique grain handling system guarantees quality assurance as it defines and applies quality standards on all Canadian grain. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency registers varieties of grain grown in Canada after the specific plant lines are evaluated by the CGC. To ensure all Canadian grain is reaching specific standards, the CGC uses grain grades to describe the quality of grain. These grades and standards are reviewed regularly to make sure they meet the needs of customers and the needs of Canadian grain producers like Barr-Ag Hay and Grain Exporters.

The Canadian Grain Commission is always engaged in scientific research to better understand grain quality and discover new ways to grow, handle and ship it to Canada’s international grain buyers. There are ongoing studies and research that continuously improve the grain grading system. This helps the Canadian grain export industry understand how different grains reflect quality and what can be done to make it better. The scientific research also helps growers increase harvest quality. Grain samples are gathered and analyzed from Canadian grain producers.

As the grain moves through the grain handling system from farm to export facility, it is checked that accurate weights are maintained throughout the process and that the grain itself is safe. Then when it is in the last stages of the grain handling system the grain is inspected at export to ensure that the grain meets Canada’s grain standards. Even as the grain is loaded onto the vessel at the export terminal it is being monitored to ensure the correct weight is loaded. At that point the grain is issued a Certificate Final.

“The Certificate Final is Canada’s assurance that your shipment meets Canadian quality and quantity standards. For each export cargo of grain from Canada the Canadian Grain Commission issues a Certificate Final. On this certificate, you will see the official grade and weight of the grain loaded on the vessel.” – Canadian Grain Commission

Exporting Canadian Grain – Barr-Ag Hay & Grain Exporters

Barr-AG is an exporter of Canadian Grains to countries around the globe. Canadian quality Oats, Barley, Wheat and oil seed such as flax and canola are all either produced on a Barr-AG farm or purchased and stored (from Canadian Farmers) and then exported Internationally.

Oats, barley and wheat, as well as flax, canola and peas come from our farms and/or our local network of Canadian Farm Producers who follow our growing protocols and adhere to our quality control standards. All of our grains, oil seeds and pulse crops are non-GMO. We specialize in containerizing and loading these products in 20 or 40 foot containers for international shipping and take care of the necessary customs documents.

Contact Barr-Ag for more information.

Source: http://www.grainscanada.gc.ca/index-eng.htm

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