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Corn Harvest Quality Report 2019/2020

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. Background: Fumonisin
  20. U.S. Corn Export System
  21. Planting and Early Growth Conditions
  22. Pollination and Grain-fill Conditions
  23. Harvest Conditions
  24. Comparison of 2019 to 2018, 2017 and the 5YA
  25. U.S. Corn Production, Usage & Outlook
  26. U.S. Corn Use and Ending Stocks
  27. Survey Design and Sampling
  28. Statistical Analysis
  29. Grade Factors
  30. Physical Factors
  31. Mycotoxins
  32. U.S. Corn Grades & Conversions

100-Kernel Weight

100-kernel (100-k) weight, reported in grams (g), indicates a larger kernel size as 100-k weight increases. Kernel size affects drying rates. As the kernel size increases, the volume-to-surface-area ratio becomes higher, and as the ratio gets higher; drying becomes slower. In addition, large, uniform-sized kernels often enable higher flaking grit yields in dry milling. Kernel weights tend to be higher for specialty varieties of corn that have high amounts of horneous (hard) endosperm.

Results

  • U.S. Aggregate 100-k weight in 2019 averaged 34.60 g, lower than 2018 (35.07 g), 2017 (36.07 g) and the 5YA (34.94 g).
  • Variability in the 2019 U.S. Aggregate 100-k weight (standard deviation of 2.48 g) was lower than 2018 (2.84 g), 2017 (2.53 g) and the 5YA (2.61 g).
  • Range in 100-k weight in 2019 (25.11 to 43.93 g) was less than 2018 (23.86 to 45.88 g) and 2017 (23.06 to 46.44 g).
  • The 100-k weights in 2019 were distributed with 44.3% of the samples having a 100-k weight of 35.0 g or greater, compared to 50.3% in 2018 and 63.6% in 2017. This distribution indicates a lower percentage of large kernels was found in 2019 as compared to 2018 and 2017.
  • The average 100-k weight was lowest for the Pacific Northwest ECA (32.73 g), compared to the Gulf (35.39 g) and Southern Rail (35.16 g) ECAs. The Pacific Northwest ECA had the lowest 100-k weight in 2019, 2018, 2017 and the 5YA.