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Corn Harvest Quality Report 2018/2019

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 (April - May)
  10. Pollination and Grain Fill Conditions - Summer (June - August)
  11. Harvest Conditions (September - October +)
  12. Comparison of the 2018 Average to the 2017, 2016 and 5YA
  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

C. Chemical Composition

1. NIR Proximate Analysis – Corn

The chemical composition (protein, oil and starch concentrations) of corn is measured using NIR. The technology uses unique interactions of specific wavelengths of light with each sample. It is calibrated to traditional chemistry methods to predict the concentrations of protein, oil and starch in the sample. This procedure is nondestructive to the corn.

Chemical composition tests for protein, oil and starch were conducted using a 550-gram to 600-gram sample in a whole-kernel Foss Infratec 1241 NIR instrument. The NIR was calibrated to chemical tests, and the standard errors of predictions for protein, oil and starch were about 0.22%, 0.26% and 0.65%, respectively. Comparisons of the Foss Infratec 1229 used in Harvest Reports prior to 2016 to the Foss Infratec 1241 on 21 laboratory check samples showed the instruments averaged within 0.25%, 0.26% and 0.25% points of each other for protein, oil and starch, respectively. Results are reported on a dry basis percentage (percent of non-water material).