Corn report highlights US quality

(Posted on 28/04/20)

The 2019/2020 U.S. corn crop faced many challenges, including late planting, delayed maturation and late harvests. Even with these challenges, data compiled in the U.S. Grains Council’s (USGC’s) 2019/2020 Corn Export Quality Report indicate the majority of the crop – 71.2 percent of samples tested – still had a test weight at or above the limit for U.S. No. 1 grade corn, indicating good quality and demonstrating the resiliency and reliability of the United States as a global grain supplier.

“Despite often unfavorable growing conditions, U.S. corn, sampled at export elevators – the last point before being transferred to our international customers – met export grades for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS),” said Reece Cannady, USGC manager of global trade. “More than anything, these results demonstrate how the U.S. grain export system is able to meet contract specifications each and every year.”

Following global social distancing guidelines, the Council is recasting its traditional series of crop quality seminars to include virtual interactions with customers by country and regional staff members and forthcoming webinars hitting highlights in both English and Spanish.

“Corn quality information is vital to foreign buyers and other industry stakeholders as they make decisions about purchase contracts and processing needs for corn for feed, food or industrial use, especially during this uncertain time of COVID-19,” said Darren Armstrong, USGC chairman and farmer from North Carolina.

“This report – along with its companion, the Corn Harvest Quality Report – has always created value for stakeholders, but it is especially important in light of the global pandemic, and we hope it’s comforting to know that end-users can rely on the U.S. to supply a consistent and reputable product.”

The 2019/2020 Corn Export Quality Report is based on 404 export cargo samples collected from corn shipments undergoing federal inspection and grading processes at export terminals. It also provides information on grading, handling and how U.S. corn is moved and controlled through export channels.

The analysis showed average test weight was lower than the 2018/2019 crop at 56.8 pounds per bushel, but still indicating overall good quality and only slightly lower average protein than the 2018/2019 crop and the five-year average, at 8.5 and 8.4 dry basis, respectively. Chemical composition indicated slightly lower starch (72.2 percent dry basis) and the same average oil concentrations in comparison with last year’s crop (4 percent dry basis). Exports had higher average stress cracks and lower average kernel weight, but the same average kernel volume than 2018/2019 and the five-year average. Kernel true density and whole kernels averaged lower, but there was a similar average of horneous endosperm from last year’s to this year’s crop.

All export samples tested below the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) action level for aflatoxins, below advisory levels for deoxynivalenol (DON) or vomitoxin. For the first year, fumonisin was tested, and 95.3 percent of samples tested below the FDA’s strictest guidance level of five parts per million.

Additionally, average BCFM (Broken Corn and Foreign Material) of 3.1 increased only slightly over the five-year average of 2.9, denoting the blending ability of elevators throughout the country to compensate for BCFM effects from adverse growing conditions.

“This past year’s growing conditions could have yielded greater BCFM issues, but average values were only slightly higher than average,” Cannady said. “This result indicates the U.S. export system was able to meet USDA’s grade standards and meet contract requirements. More than anything, it is a testament to elevator operators around the country for doing a great job in keeping things going during a tough year.”

Latest News

Bunge closes agreement to acquire NWT grain elevator assets

Bunge has successfully closed its purchase agreement for the grain elevator assets of North West Terminal... Read more

NGFA applauds Senate committee for advancing Grain Standards Act reauthorisation

The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) in the USA has applauded the Senate Agriculture Committee... Read more

Rio Tinto announces board changes.

As Rio Tinto previously reported, the size of its Board peaked at 14 Directors during a transitional... Read more

ADM advances quality capabilities with new central milling laboratory

ADM , a global leader in human and animal nutrition, has celebrated the opening of its new Central Milling... Read more

Bunge announces reporting segment changes and recast outlook

Bunge Global SA has announced that it has changed its segment and volume reporting to align with the... Read more

Open Trade Coalition calls for bold and open EU trade policy

As the European Parliament prepares for the confirmation hearings of the new Commissioners, the Open... Read more

Rio Tinto Q3 results show strong production across the portfolio

Multinational mining company, Rio Tinto, has releases its third quarter 2025 production results showing... Read more

Robe River JV to invest $733m to extend Western Australia iron ore mine

Rio Tinto, Mitsui and Nippon Steel will invest $733 million1 (Rio Tinto share $389 million) to develop... Read more

Cargill deploys AI robot dog 'Spot' to enhance safety, reliability and innovation

Cargill has introduced Boston Dynamics’ four-legged robot, Spot, at its Amsterdam Multiseed crush... Read more

Holcim strengthens West Australia presence with BGC acquisition

Holcim Australia has announced that Cement Australia (CA) - its joint venture with Heidelberg Materials... Read more