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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

IV. CROP AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

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, 2018 was characterized by a hot, wet vegetative period (the period of growth between germination and pollination), followed by a warm pollination time then a grain-filling period with diverse weather, finishing with an intermittent harvest. This crop was planted late, but quickly grew, starting with a relatively high crop condition rating1 but finalized near the 5YA. In addition to the USDA predicting a record corn yield for 2018, the crop had higher average test weight, oil content, 100-k weight and true density, and fewer stress cracks and broken corn relative to the 5YA. The following points highlight the key events of the 2018 growing season:

  • Planting season was delayed but compressed, starting the plants quickly and uniformly in warm weather.
  • Vegetative period in May and June was hot; the mostly dry May turned rainy in June, making fertilizer available during grain ear initiation and the rapid growth that finishes this stage.
  • Pollination (silking stage) occurred two weeks earlier than average, setting grain fill in the heat of the summer, decreasing relative starch accumulation.
  • Early grain development was accompanied by dry conditions in the Gulf ECA, while the Pacific Northwest ECA and Southern Rail ECA received abundant rain in July.
  • Wet conditions in August during grain fill in the Pacific Northwest and Gulf ECAs promoted oil accumulation and good test weight.
  • The combination of accelerated development and a hot August sped maturation, dry-down and initial harvest, but harvest was then delayed by abundant precipitation.

The following sections describe how the 2018 growing season weather impacted corn yield and grain quality in the U.S. Corn Belt.

1The 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.