In any supply chain ,business must be based on understanding and meeting the needs of buyers . In the ‘grain chain’ , farmers must forge links with merchants or end-users.

However, supplying grain to a specification is not easy. Grain is inherently variable and specifications become ever more stringen t . Failure to meet specifications means farmers face price deductions or, in the worst case, rejection. We have calculated that the annual cost to the industry is around 2.5 million.

Much of this cost could be saved if the quality data obtained by both the seller and buyer of grain match each other well . Achieving this depends on adopting similar standards for grain sampling and accurate analysis on and off the farm .

That is why HGCA seized the opportunity to generate a greater understanding of sampling through the Grain Sampling and Analysis Project .Funded 75% with a HM Treasury Invest to Save grant and with 25% HGCA input , this guide is one of the project’s first outputs .

The protocols included here do not replace international standards employed by sectors of the trade .However,the HGCA protocol s , devised by the industry, represent a significant advance for practical farm use.