Corn test weights are low; why and what impact will that have?
A. Corn lost test weight because of the rapid maturity advance in late August of what was a crop lagging in maturity. Kernel fill was not complete. Dry corn test weights are in the 52 -54 lb/bu range, with less than normal increase during drying. This is about 3 lb/bu less than average. Test weight loss during kernel fill means loss of weight per acre, in this case approximately 5 percent. Low test weight corn spoils more rapidly and breaks more in handling, as we saw in 2008. There will be storage problems in spring and summer of 2010, especially with the shortage of drying capacity and more grain held at higher moistures. Ethanol yields should not be significantly affected; light corn tends to be softer and lower protein, both of which favor ethanol yield. Feed users should test for mycotoxins from field molds, and expect lower protein corn with more small particles after grinding. Q. What about wet soybeans and high temperature drying? Some soybeans are above 18 percent in the field
