Grain Scale: How to Check Test Weight, Dockage and Moisture
A grain scale should turn a filled test cup straight into bushel weight, and the Adam CQT-1752GR does exactly that: 1,750 g × 0.05 g, direct lb/bu and kg/hL readings, dockage percentage and five stored samples, on sale for $159.00 (regular $420.00) and in stock.
Short answer: for checking test weight and dockage at harvest, the Adam CQT-1752GR is our pick at $159.00. Choose the container you fill (0.5 L, 1 L, 1 pint or 1 quart), weigh the sample, and it shows test weight in lb/bu (Winchester bushel) or kg/hL, with no conversion table. It also calculates dockage after up to five screenings, runs on six AA batteries or a 12 VDC adapter, and weighs about 2.2 lb, so it goes to the field, the bin or the elevator office. If you also need moisture content by loss on drying, the A&D MX-50 moisture analyzer (51 g × 0.001 g, 0.01% moisture resolution) is $1,998.00. We are an authorized dealer for every brand we sell.
On sale: $159.00 (regular $420.00) on the Adam CQT-1752GR (#5623), in stock. Contact us or call (832) 290-3120 with questions.
Farm and grain scale guides from MNM Scales
- Grain scale: how to check test weight, dockage and moisture (you are here)
- Moisture analyzer buying guide
- Hay scale guide
- Scale capacity and readability
- Portable scale guide
- How often should a scale be calibrated?
Test weight, the weight of a set volume of grain, is one of the first numbers a buyer looks at, and dockage, the share of foreign material you screen out, comes right off the price. A grain scale that reads both directly saves the arithmetic and the mistakes. This guide covers how to fill the cup the same way every time, read lb/bu, figure dockage, log a harvest, and keep the scale accurate.
Grain scales in stock at live prices
| Scale | Capacity × readability | What it measures | What stands out | Price | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adam CQT-1752GR | 1,750 g × 0.05 g (repeatability and linearity 0.1 g) | Test weight in lb/bu or kg/hL, dockage % after up to 5 screenings, grams | 4 container sizes, 5 stored samples, ShockProtect, AA batteries or 12 VDC adapter, about 2.2 lb | $159.00 (reg. $420.00) | Test weight and dockage in the field, at the bin or at a buying station |
| A&D MX-50 | 51 g × 0.001 g | Moisture and solids by loss on drying, 0.01% resolution | 400 W halogen heater, 50 to 200 °C, 10 program memories, RS-232C, 20 sample pans included | $1,998.00 (reg. $4,530.00) | Moisture testing in a farm office, co-op or ag lab |
Fill the test cup the same way every time
- Pick one container size (0.5 L, 1 L, 1 pint or 1 quart) and select the same size on the scale every time.
- Mix the sample so it represents the load, not just the top of the truck bed or bin.
- Pour the grain into the cup from the same height and at the same speed, until it overflows.
- Strike off the top level with a straight edge in one pass, without pressing or shaking the cup.
- Tare the empty cup first if your routine calls for it, then weigh the filled cup and read lb/bu or kg/hL.
Packing the cup, tapping it, or pouring faster one time than the next changes how much grain fits, and that shows up as a different test weight. Consistency matters more than any single reading.
Reading lb/bu and kg/hL
The CQT-1752GR converts the sample weight to test weight for the container you selected: pounds per Winchester bushel (lb/bu), the U.S. unit, or kilograms per hectoliter (kg/hL), the metric one. Compare the reading against the grade standard or contract your buyer uses. Run two or three cups from the same sample; if they disagree by more than a small amount, your filling routine needs work before the scale does.
Figuring dockage
Weigh the sample, screen out foreign material, broken kernels and chaff, and weigh what is left. The CQT-1752GR calculates the dockage percentage for you after up to five screenings, so you can run a sieve stack in steps and still get one number. Keep the screened material with the sample record if a buyer may question it.
Moisture: when you need it
Test weight and moisture go together: wet grain can weigh differently and costs you in drying and shrink. A grain scale does not measure moisture. For that, a loss-on-drying moisture analyzer like the A&D MX-50 heats a small sample and reports moisture content to 0.01%. Our moisture analyzer buying guide compares models and methods.
Keep a harvest load log
- Date, field and crop
- Load or bin number
- Container size used
- Test weight (lb/bu) from two or three cups, and the average
- Dockage %
- Moisture %, if measured
- Who ran the test
A simple log lets you compare fields and years, catch a drift in your readings, and answer a buyer’s question with your own numbers.
Keep the scale clean and level
- Set the scale on a flat, solid surface out of the wind; a gust on the pan moves the reading.
- Brush dust and chaff off the pan and housing after each session.
- Check it with a known weight at the start of the season and whenever it is dropped or moved a long way.
- Keep spare AA batteries in the case for field days.
Calibration, repair and rentals
The Adam CQT-1752GR is under 2.2 kg, so in-house calibration with a certificate is $95.00 and NIST calibration with a NIST-traceable certificate is $395.00; add either when you order and it arrives calibrated. Mail-in calibration is available nationwide by mail, for in-house and NIST certificates, and usually takes 1–3 business days after we receive the scale. On-site calibration across Houston and its suburbs is $295 plus $2 per mile round trip. For a moisture analyzer, get a quote. See scale calibration in Houston. We repair all brands and types of scales through our Houston scale repair service, and we rent scales in the Houston area; call or get a quote.
Notes from our Cypress, TX shop
- Use one container size all season. Switching sizes mid-harvest makes your numbers harder to compare.
- Run every sample twice. Two cups that agree are worth more than one careful one.
- Calibrate before harvest, not after a dispute. A certificate dated before the season starts is easy to show a buyer.
- Weighing hay too? That is a different job; see our hay scale guide.
Ready to order? The Adam CQT-1752GR is our grain scale for test weight and dockage, on sale at $159.00 (regular $420.00), in stock. Need moisture too? See the A&D MX-50 at $1,998.00. Questions? Call (832) 290-3120 or get a quote.
Shop the CQT-1752GR (#5623) Call (832) 290-3120 Request a quote
Frequently asked questions
What is a grain scale?
A grain scale weighs a set volume of grain and converts it to test weight, the weight per bushel or hectoliter. The Adam CQT-1752GR reads lb/bu and kg/hL directly and calculates dockage, at $159.00.
How do I check grain test weight?
Select the container size on the scale, fill the cup by pouring from the same height until it overflows, strike it off level in one pass without packing, and weigh it. The scale shows lb/bu or kg/hL. Repeat two or three times and average.
What container sizes does the CQT-1752GR support?
Four: 0.5 L, 1 L, 1 pint and 1 quart. Select the one you use and the scale converts the sample weight to test weight.
Can a grain scale measure moisture?
No. A grain scale measures weight, test weight and dockage. For moisture content, use a moisture analyzer such as the A&D MX-50; see our moisture analyzer guide.
How does the CQT-1752GR calculate dockage?
It compares the sample weight before and after screening and shows the dockage percentage, after up to five screenings.
How much does it cost to calibrate a grain scale?
The CQT-1752GR is under 2.2 kg: $95.00 for in-house calibration with a certificate or $395.00 for NIST calibration with a NIST-traceable certificate. Mail-in is available nationwide by mail.