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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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A. Corn Grading Factors

1. Test Weight

Test weight is a measure of the quantity of grain required to fill a specific volume (Winchester bushel). Test weight is a part of the FGIS Official U.S. Standards for Corn grading criteria.

The test involves filling a test cup of known volume through a funnel held at a specific height above the test cup to the point where grain begins to pour over the sides of the test cup. A strike-off stick is used to level the grain in the test cup, and the grain remaining in the cup is weighed. The weight is then converted to and reported in the traditional U.S. unit, pounds per bushel (lb/bu).

2. Broken Corn and Foreign Material (BCFM)

Broken corn and foreign material (BCFM) is part of the FGIS Official U.S. Standards for Corn.

This test determines the amount of matter that passes through a 12/64th-inch round-hole sieve and all matter other than corn that remains on the top of the sieve. Broken corn is defined as all material passing through a 12/64th-inch round-hole sieve and retained on a 6/64th-inch round-hole sieve. Foreign material is defined as all material passing through the 6/64th-inch round-hole sieve and the coarse non-corn material retained on top of the 12/64th sieve. BCFM is reported as a percentage of the initial sample by weight.

3. Total Damage/Heat Damage

Total damage is part of the FGIS Official U.S. Standards for Corn grading criteria.

A representative working sample of 250 grams of BCFM-free corn is visually examined by a properly trained individual for content of damaged kernels. Types of damage include blue-eye mold, cob rot, dryer-damaged kernels (different from heat-damaged kernels), germ-damaged kernels, heat-damaged kernels, insect-bored kernels, mold-damaged kernels, mold-like substance, silk-cut kernels, surface mold (blight), surface mold, mold (pink Epicoccum), and sprout-damaged kernels. Total damage is reported as the weight percentage of the working sample that is total damaged grain.

Heat damage is a subset of total damage and consists of kernels and pieces of corn kernels that are materially discolored and damaged by heat. Heatdamaged kernels are determined by a properly trained individual visually inspecting a 250-gram sample of BCFM-free corn. Heat damage, if found, is reported separately from total damage.