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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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V. EXPORT QUALITY TEST RESULTS

A. Grade Factors

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) has established numerical grades, definitions and standards for grains. The attributes that determine the numerical grades for sorghum are test weight, broken kernels and foreign material (BNFM), foreign material, total damage, and heat damage. The table for “U.S. Sorghum Grades and Grade Requirements” is provided on page 83 of this report. For this 2015/2016 Export Survey, all of the export samples received were from sublots with contracts that were specified as grade U.S. No. 2 or better, which is the most common grade for which U.S. sorghum export contracts are written.

SUMMARY: GRADE FACTORS AND MOISTURE

  • Average U.S. Export Aggregate test weight in 2015/2016 was 59.0 lb/bu (76.0 kg/hl), above the minimum for U.S. No. 1 grade sorghum (57.0 lb/bu or 73.4 kg/hl), with 100% of the samples at or above the limit for U.S. No. 2 grade (55.0 lb/bu or 70.8 kg/hl).
  • Average U.S. Export Aggregate broken kernels and foreign material (BNFM) in the 2015/2016 samples (1.9%) was well below the maximum for U.S. No. 1 grade (3.0%), with all samples at or below the maximum for U.S. No. 2 grade (6.0%).
  • Average foreign material in the 2015/2016 U.S. Export Aggregate samples (0.9%) was below the maximum for U.S. No. 1 grade (1.0%), with 98.3% of the samples at or below the maximum foreign material allowable for U.S. No. 2 grade (2.0%).
  • Total damage average for the 2015/2016 U.S. Export Aggregate samples (0.5%) was well below the maximum for U.S. No. 1 grade (2.0%), with 100% of the samples having 5.0% or less (the maximum allowable for U.S. No. 2 grade).
  • Average test weight for the NOLA EO (59.3 lb/bu or 76.4 kg/hl) was higher than for the Texas EO (57.8 lb/bu or 74.5 kg/hl).
  • Average foreign material and total damage for the NOLA EO (0.8% and 0.4%, respectively) were lower than for the Texas EO (1.0% and 0.8%).
  • No difference was observed in average BNFM between the NOLA (1.9%) and Texas (1.9%) EOs.
  • There was no heat damage observed in any of the 2015/2016 U.S. Export Aggregate samples.
  • Average U.S. Aggregate values for BNFM, foreign material, and total damage were all higher at export than at harvest, which was expected. However, the standard deviations for these tests all indicated more uniformity at export than at harvest.
  • Average U.S. Export Aggregate moisture content was 13.8%. Average moisture content was slightly higher for the NOLA EO (13.8%), with more variability than for the Texas EO (13.6%).
  • Average U.S. Aggregate moisture was lower at export than at harvest (14.1%); the standard deviation of export samples indicated much more uniformity of moisture at export than at harvest.

1. Test Weight

Test weight (kernel weight per standard container volume) is a measure of bulk density and is often used as a general indicator of overall quality and as a gauge of endosperm hardness for size reduction and value-added processing. High test-weight sorghum takes up less storage space than the same weight of sorghum with a lower test weight. Test weight is initially impacted by genetic differences in the structure of the kernel. However, it is also affected by moisture content, method of drying, physical damage to the kernel (broken kernels and scuffed surfaces), foreign material in the sample, kernel size, stress during the growing season, and microbiological damage. When sampled and measured at the point of delivery from the farm at a given moisture content, high test weight generally indicates high quality, high percent of hard (or vitreous) endosperm, and sound, clean sorghum. Test weight is highly correlated with kernel true density and reflects kernel hardness and kernel maturity1.

RESULTS

  • Average U.S. Export Aggregate test weight in 2015/2016 was 59.0 lb/bu (76.0 kg/hl), above the minimum for U.S. No. 1 grade (57.0 lb/bu or 73.4 kg/hl).
  • The test weight values for the 2015/2016 U.S. Export Aggregate samples had a standard deviation of 0.75 lb/bu (0.97 kg/hl) and a range of 56.2 to 60.5 lb/bu (72.3 to 77.9 kg/hl).
  • Average U.S. Export Aggregate test weight was very similar to average U.S. Harvest Aggregate test weight (58.9 lb/bu or 75.9 kg/hl).
  • The 2015/2016 U.S. Export Aggregate test weight values were distributed with 94.5% of the samples at or above the factor limit for U.S. No. 1 grade.
  • Average test weight was higher for the NOLA EO (59.3 lb/bu or 76.4 kg/hl), with less variability than for the Texas EO (57.8 lb/bu or 74.5 kg/hl).

1Buffo, R.A., C.L. Weller and A.M. Parkhurst. 1998. Relationship among grain sorghum quality factors. Cereal Chemistry 75(1):100-104.

2. Broken Kernels and Foreign Material (BNFM)

Broken kernels and foreign material (BNFM) is an indicator of the amount of clean, sound sorghum available for feed and processing. The lower the percentage of BNFM, the less foreign material and/or fewer broken kernels are in a sample. Higher levels of BNFM in farm-originated samples generally stem from combine settings and/or weed seeds in the field. BNFM levels will normally increase during drying and handling, depending on the methods used and the soundness of the kernels. Stress crack formation during dry down or during mechanical drying after harvest will also result in an increase in broken kernels and BNFM during subsequent handling.

RESULTS

  • Average U.S. Export Aggregate BNFM in the 2015/2016 samples (1.9%) was well below the maximum for U.S. No. 1 grade (3.0%).
  • The BNFM values for the 2015/2016 U.S. Export Aggregate samples had a standard deviation of 0.52% with a range of 1.0 to 4.6%.
  • Average U.S. Export Aggregate BNFM was higher than the U.S. Harvest Aggregate average (1.7%); however, the standard deviation of export samples was much lower than that for the harvest samples (0.93%).
  • The 2015/2016 U.S. Export Aggregate BNFM values were all at or below the maximum for U.S. No. 2 grade (6.0%), with 96.2% of the samples also at or below the maximum for U.S. No. 1 grade (3.0%).
  • No difference was observed in average BNFM between the NOLA (1.9%) and Texas (1.9%) EOs. Both averages were well below the maximum for U.S. No. 1 grade (3.0%).

3. Foreign Material

Foreign material, a subset of BNFM, is of importance because it has little feed or processing value. It is also generally higher in moisture content than the sorghum itself, and therefore creates a potential for deterioration of sorghum quality during storage. Foreign material also contributes to the spout-line and has the possibility of creating more quality problems and damage because of its higher moisture level, as mentioned above.

RESULTS

  • Foreign material in the U.S. Export Aggregate samples averaged 0.9% in 2015/2016, below the maximum value of 1.0% for U.S. No. 1 grade.
  • The foreign material values for the 2015/2016 U.S. Export Aggregate samples had a standard deviation of 0.39% with a range of 0.1 to 3.4%.
  • Average U.S. Export Aggregate foreign material was higher than the U.S. Harvest Aggregate average (0.6%); the standard deviation of export samples was slightly lower than that for the harvest samples (0.41%).
  • In the 2015/2016 U.S. Export Aggregate samples, 98.3% of the samples were at or below the maximum foreign material allowable for U.S. No. 2 grade (2.0%), with 76.8% of the samples also at or below the maximum for U.S. No. 1 grade (1.0%).
  • Average foreign material was slightly lower in samples for the NOLA EO (0.8%), with less variability than in samples for the Texas EO (1.0%). Both averages were at or below the maximum for U.S. No. 1 grade (1.0%).

4. Total Damage

Total damage is the percentage of kernels and pieces of kernels that are visually damaged in some way, including badly ground-damaged, badly weather-damaged, diseased, frostdamaged, germ-damaged, heat-damaged, insect-bored, mold-damaged, sprout-damaged, or otherwise materially damaged. Most of these types of damage result in some sort of discoloration or change in kernel texture. Damage does not include broken pieces of grain that are otherwise normal in appearance. Mold damage is usually associated with higherthan-desired moisture contents and temperatures during growth and/or in storage. Mold damage and the associated potential for development of mycotoxins are the damage factors of greatest concern. Mold damage can occur prior to harvest as well as during temporary storage at high-moisture and high-temperature levels before delivery.

RESULTS

  • Total damage in the U.S. Export Aggregate samples averaged 0.5% in 2015/2016, well below the limit for U.S. No. 1 grade (2.0%).
  • The total damage values for the 2015/2016 U.S. Export Aggregate samples had a standard deviation of 0.33%, with a range of 0.0 to 2.1%.
  • Average U.S. Export Aggregate total damage was higher than U.S. Harvest Aggregate total damage (0.1%); the standard deviation of export samples was much lower than that for the harvest samples (0.13%).
  • Total damage in the 2015/2016 U.S. Export Aggregate samples was distributed with 99.5% of the samples having 2.0% or less damaged kernels (the maximum allowable for U.S. No. 1 grade), and 100% having 5.0% or less (the maximum allowable for U.S. No. 2 grade).
  • Average total damage was lower for the NOLA EO (0.4%), with less variability than for the Texas EO (0.8%). Both averages were below the maximum for U.S. No. 1 grade (2.0%).

5. Heat Damage

Heat damage is a subset of total damage and has separate allowances in the U.S. Grade Standards. Heat damage can be caused by microbiological activity in warm, moist grain or by high heat applied during drying. Heat damage is seldom present in sorghum delivered at harvest directly from farms.

RESULTS

  • There was no heat damage observed in any of the 2015/2016 U.S. Export Aggregate samples.
  • The absence of heat damage likely was due in part to harvested samples moving quickly from farm to export loadout facility with no or minimal prior drying.