Grain Grading and Emergence

When discussing the idea of drill performance, as it pertains to crop quality, field inspection over the course of the growing season is typically how this is achieved. The grain that is harvested at the end of the year provides a more accurate representation as it is the final finished product that enters the food supply chain. Each harvest season, grain companies ask producers to take representative samples of their crops as they are loaded into grain bins or bags. Grain handling facilities then grade the samples to determine grade and quality before the producer is given the green-light to deliver. This ensures that the elevator accepts delivery of grain that corresponds with their end-user orders and shipping requirements which can vary in terms of grade (and protein in the case of wheat).

One of the biggest problems regarding wheat grading in recent years has been the presence of Fusarium Head Blight (FHB). This disease produces a compound called vomitoxin, which is …