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2015/2016 Sorghum Harvest and Export Quality Report

Contents

  1. Harvest Quality Highlights
  2. Export Quality Highlights
  3. Introduction
  4. Harvest Quality Test Results
  5. Moisture
  6. Physical Factors
  7. Mycotoxins
  8. Export Quality Test Results
  9. Moisture
  10. Chemical Composition
  11. Physical Factors
  12. Mycotoxins
  13. Crop and Weather Conditions
  14. Planting and Early Growth Conditions
  15. Late Vegetative and Mid-Pollination Conditions
  16. Maturity and Harvest Conditions
  17. Comparison of 2015 to 2010-2014
  18. U.S. Sorghum Export System
  19. U.S. Sorghum Export Flow
  20. Impact of the Sorghum Market Channel on Quality
  21. U.S. Government Inspection and Grading
  22. U.S. Sorghum Production, Usage and Outlook
  23. U.S. Sorghum Use and Ending Stocks
  24. Outlook
  25. Harvest Survey and Statistical Analysis Methods
  26. Survey Design and Sampling
  27. Statistical Analysis
  28. Export Survey and Statistical Analysis Methods
  29. Survey Design and Sampling
  30. Statistical Analysis
  31. Testing Analysis Methods
  32. Sorghum Grading Factors
  33. Moisture
  34. Chemical Composition
  35. Physical Factors
  36. Mycotoxin Testing
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A. Sorghum Grading Factors

1. Test Weight

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

The test involves filling a test cup of known volume through a funnel held at a specifc 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 Kernels and Foreign Material (BNFM)/Foreign Material

Broken kernels and foreign material (BNFM) and foreign material are part of the FGIS Offcial U.S. Standards for Sorghum.

This test determines the amount of broken kernels and foreign material contained in the sample. Broken kernels is defined as all material which passes through a 5/64 th-inch triangular-hole sieve and over a 2.5/64 th-inch roundhole sieve. Foreign material is defined as all material, except sorghum, that remains on top of the 5/64th-inch triangular-hole sieve and all matter other than sorghum which passes over the No. 6 riddle. Foreign material is reported as a sum of the mechanically-separated foreign material as a percent of the dockage-free sample weight and the handpicked foreign material as a percent of the handpicked sample portion weight. BNFM is reported as the sum of broken kernels as a percent of the dockage-free sample weight and the foreign material.

3. Total Damage/Heat Damage

Total damage is part of the FGIS Offcial U.S. Standards for Sorghum grading criteria. A representative working sample of 15 grams of BNFM-free sorghum is visually examined by a properly trained individual for content of damaged kernels. Types of damage include germ-damaged kernels, ground- and/or weather-damaged kernels, diseased kernels, frost-damaged kernels, heat-damaged kernels, insect-bored kernels, mold-damaged kernels (surface and/or internal), mold-like substance, purple-pigment-damaged kernels, 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 sorghum kernels that are materially discolored and damaged by heat. Heat-damaged kernels are determined by a properly trained individual visually inspecting a 15-gram sample of BNFM-free sorghum. Heat damage, if found, is reported separately from total damage.