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C.O.R.N Newsletter 2008-36
     October 21, 2008 - October 28, 2008


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Grain Shrinkage in Corn
by Peter Thomison

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In response to questions I've received about grain shrinkage in corn during past weeks and how it's calculated, the following is some background information on the topic and an additional resource to consider. There are two components of the weight losses calculated during grain shrinkage: 1) water and 2) handling or dry matter loss.
Water removal is by far the major weight loss component during drying. But a second, smaller portion is dry matter or handling loss due to release of oils, mechanical losses from broken kernels, and respiration from the seed.

Calculation of water loss alone is straightforward and does not vary from load to load or chart to chart. But the actual amount of handling loss will depend on the initial physical quality of the corn and the handling processes during drying. This loss is not measured directly by buyers, but is added to water loss using several different methods of estimation. The most common two methods are: 1) use of drying tables which include water shrink plus a constant handling loss (usually 0.5% of the initial grain weight), or 2) a constant shrink factor in which the assumed handling loss varies depending on the initial grain moisture content.

In order to accurately compare custom drying quotes or grain sale alternatives, corn growers must determine the shrinkage costs associated with each and choose the alternative which returns the greatest dry bushels or highest net sale.

For examples of how to do such comparisons (and a more detailed description of shrinkage calculation differences), see National Corn Handbook Publication NCH-61, "Calculating Grain Weight Shrinkage in Corn Due to Mechanical Drying." It's available on-line at: (http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/NCH61.pdf)

Readers can subscribe electronically to this newsletter by signing up at http://agcrops.osu.edu/services/email.html. E-mail labarge.1@osu.edu if you have problems subscribing or no longer wish to receive this newsletter.

C.O.R.N. is a summary of crop observations, related information, and appropriate recommendations for Ohio Crop Producers and Industry. C.O.R.N. is produced by the Ohio State University Extension Agronomy Team, State Specialists at The Ohio State University and Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. C.O.R.N. Questions are directed to State Specialists, Extension Associates, and Agents associated with Ohio State University Extension and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center at The Ohio State University.


Information presented above and where trade names are used, they are supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Ohio State University Extension is implied. Although every attempt is made to produce information that is complete, timely, and accurate, the pesticide user bears responsibility of consulting the pesticide label and adhering to those directions.

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Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Keith L. Smith, Director, Ohio State University Extension.

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