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Corn Export Cargo Quality Report 2018/2019

Contents

  1. Export Cargo Quality Highlights
  2. Introduction
  3. Grade Factors
  4. Quality Test Results
  5. Moisture
  6. Chemical Composition
  7. Physical Factors
  8. Stress Cracks
  9. 100- Kernel Weight
  10. Kernel Volume
  11. Kernel True Density
  12. Whole Kernels
  13. Horneous (Hard) Endosperm
  14. Mycotoxins
  15. Assessing the Presence of Aflatoxins and Deoxynivalenol (DON)
  16. Background: Mycotoxins General
  17. Background: Aflatoxins
  18. Background: Deoxynivalenol (DON) or Vomitoxin
  19. U.S. Corn Export System
  20. U.S. Corn Export Flow
  21. Impact of The Corn Market Channel on Quality
  22. U.S. Government Inspection and Grading
  23. Survey & Statistical Analysis Methods
  24. Survey Design & Sampling
  25. Statistical Analysis
  26. Testing Analysis Methods
  27. Grade Factors
  28. Moisture
  29. Chemical Composition
  30. Physical Factors
  31. Mycotoxins
  32. U.S. Corn Grades & Conversions

Grade Factors

The USDA FGIS has established numerical grades, definitions and standards for measurement of many quality attributes. The attributes that determine the numerical grades for corn are: test weight, BCFM, total damage and heat damage. A table displaying the numerical requirements for these attributes is included in the “U.S. Corn Grades and Requirements” section on page 72 of this report.

Summary: Grade Factors and Moisture

  • Average U.S. Aggregate test weight (57.4 lb/bu or 73.9 kg/hl) was the same as 2017/2018, 2016/2017 and the 5YA, and all were well above the limit for U.S. No. 1 grade (56.0 lb/bu).
  • Average U.S. Aggregate BCFM (2.9%) was the same as 2017/2018 and 2016/2017. All were slightly lower than the 5YA (3.0%). A to- tal of 64.0% of the export samples contained levels at or below the maximum allowed for U.S. No. 2 grade (3.0%), and 94.0% were at or below the limit for U.S. No. 3 grade (4.0%).
  • Average U.S. Aggregate total damage (2.6%) was higher than 2017/2018 and the 5YA, similar to 2016/2017 and well below the limit for U.S. No. 1 grade (3.0%). Of the export samples, 64.9% had 3.0% or less damaged kernels, meeting the requirement for U.S. No. 1 grade. In addition, 94.7% were at or below the limit for U.S. No. 2 grade (5.0%).
  • Export samples from the Pacific Northwest ECA had the lowest average total damage among the three ECAs for each of the last three years and for the 5YA.
  • Average U.S. Aggregate heat damage was 0.0% for 2018/2019, the same as the previous three years and the 5YA.
  • Test weight, total damage and heat damage averages for contracts loaded as U.S. No. 2 or better and for contracts loaded as U.S. No. 3 or better were at or better than U.S. No. 1 grade limits.
  • Average BCFM for contracts loaded as U.S. No. 2 or better was below the limit for U.S. No. 2. Average BCFM for contracts loaded as U.S. No. 3 or better was well below the limit for U.S. No. 3.
  • Average U.S. Aggregate moisture content (14.5%) was slightly higher than 2017/2018, 2016/2017 and the 5YA.
  • A total of 41.6% of the samples had moisture contents above 14.5%, which was higher than in the previous two years, indicating care should be taken in monitoring moistures and checking storage conditions.
  • The Pacific Northwest ECA average moisture (14.4%) was lower than the Gulf (14.5%) and Southern Rail (14.6%) ECAs. The Pacific Northwest ECA had the lowest average moisture content among ECAs for each of the last three years and for the 5YA.