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Corn Harvest Quality Report 2014/2015

Contents

  1. Harvest Quality Highlights
  2. Introduction
  3. Quality Test Results
  4. Moisture
  5. Chemical Composition
  6. Physical Factors
  7. Mycotoxins
  8. Crop and Weather Conditions
  9. Planting and Early Growth Conditions - Spring (March - May)
  10. Pollination and Grain Fill Conditions - Summer (June - August)
  11. Harvest Conditions (September - October +)
  12. Comparison of the 2015 Average to the 2014, 2013, and 4YA
  13. Corn Production, Usage, and Outlook
  14. U.S. Corn Use and Ending Stocks
  15. Outlook
  16. Survey and Statistical Analysis Methods
  17. Survey Design and Sampling
  18. Statistical Analysis
  19. Testing Analysis Methods
  20. Corn Grading Factors
  21. Moisture
  22. Chemical Composition
  23. Physical Factors
  24. Mycotoxin Testing
  25. U.S. Corn Grades and Conversions
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IV. CROP AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

HIGHLIGHTS

Weather plays a large role in the corn planting process, growing conditions, and grain development in the field, which, in turn, impacts final grain yield and quality. Overall, 2014 was a cool, wet year with delayed planting and delayed harvest. However, the crop was quite uniform in maturity and had the best crop condition rating during reproductive growth in the past ten years, with record harvests expected. The following highlights the key events of the 2014 growing season:

  • A cold, wet spring prevented early planting, but warm May soils led to uniform emergence.
  • Excellent pollination conditions then cool summer temperatures with ample rainfall encouraged starch and oil accumulation in more kernels, with less protein concentration.
  • Pollination conditions were favorable for high yield, but also for Diplodia in some locations.
  • Cool temperatures and flooding delayed maturity and harvesting, especially in the northern areas.
  • An early freeze affecting 20% of the corn growing area, leading to some kernel immaturity, which with delayed harvest may have led to more drying and possible corn stress cracks.

The following sections describe how the 2014 growing season weather impacted the corn yield and grain quality in the U.S. Corn Belt.

1The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) rates the U.S. corn crop weekly during the production cycle. The rating is based on yield potential, and plant stress due to a number of factors including extreme temperatures, excessive or insufficient moisture, disease, insect damage and/or weed pressure.