HIGH EXTRACTABLE STARCH CORN - UPDATED 2003

Description: High extractable starch corn is regular hybrid corn with normal levels of oil and protein and with starch yields in the range of 69–72%. These are hybrids that mill easily and give wet millers a greater return resulting from increased starch yield coming from the gluten meal and feed fraction. Because it is essentially the same as normal dent corn, high starch corn produces high yields and is convenient to grow.
Factors to be considered: In deciding whether to produce high extractable starch corn, several factors need to be considered. First, management practices that preserve grain identity (IP) from planting through storage must be followed; therefore, producers will likely need sufficient amounts of on-farm storage that can be segregated. Second, if it is likely that this crop will be exported, either as grain or after processing, then you may need to plant a non-genetically modified (non-GMO) hybrid. Third, to maintain starch quality, the buyer may require that you follow specific harvest and post-harvest management practices, such as drying at lower temperatures (e.g. grain temperature of < 140º).
Trends in demand. Estimates for 2002 were for 125-175,000 acres of HES corn to be planted with grain used both domestically as well as exported. Attained value from HES corn processing is still in the development stages, but growth can be expected as near infrared grain analysis is used to develop starch standards. National Starch in Indianapolis, IN and Kansas City, MO instituted contracting for HES corn in 2002. Premiums generally ranged from $0.07 to $0.15 per bushel over Chicago Board of Trade prices. Japan is extremely interested in HES as a source of consistent, high quality corn and is the major export market for HES corn. Domestic demand for HES corn will also increase as more ethanol plants are brought online, as MTBE is phased out and as efficiency improvements in ethanol production will be necessary to be competitive with gasoline.

RECOMMENDED PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

The practices required for successfully producing high extractable starch corn are essentially the same as those used for conventional yellow dent corn. Growers should follow recommended agronomic practices, including the maintenance of good soil fertility and pest control to minimize stress, and maximize yield potential and kernel quality. However, IP management practices must be followed from planting through delivery.

• Seed Selection: Select numbers as you otherwise would. Ask about yield history, maturity, standability, disease resistance, drought tolerance, dry-down and adaptability of recommended high starch corn numbers. Also, determine whether the hybrid you select is a non-GMO. Your contract will specify acceptable elite high starch hybrids.
• Site Selection:Plant high starch corn on well-drained soils to maximize yields and reduce stress. Avoid droughty and poorly drained soil conditions.
• Crop Rotation: Plant corn following soybeans to increase yield and decrease insect and disease pressure. Corn yields with corn-soybean rotations will typically be about 10% higher than corn following corn. This yield advantage is more pronounced when stress occurs during the growing season. Rotating with soybeans also minimizes volunteer corn, which can cause contamination problems during pollination in high starch corn.
• Isolation: Isolation from non-high starch corn is necessary. Allow 8-10 border rows around field to eliminate cross-pollination. These border rows should be harvested separately and used as feed or sold separately as regular field corn.
• Seedbed Preparation: Prepare a seedbed that will promote uniform seed emergence and crop development. Avoid cloddy soils with heavy residue and poor furrow closure conditions. Conventional and minimum till methods may provide for more even plant emergence than no-till.
• Plant Population: Follow recommended seeding rates; usually about 30,000 plants per acre to maximize yield.
• Planting Date: Plant early in the maturity window for the seed you select: the last half of April is the best planting period, if soil conditions permit. Planting early helps extend the grain filling period, reduces the likelihood of stress during pollination, and allows more field drying time in the fall.
• Fertility. Use a balanced fertility program. While not essential in most of Illinois, starter fertilizer can promote uniform plant emergence for good pollination. Nitrogen should be used at a ratio of 1.2 pounds per bushel of expected yield, minus 40 pounds nitrogen if following soybeans, and minus other nitrogen applications such as manure and DAP. Spring application of nitrogen may favor greater starch content compared to sidedress applications.
• Insect Management: Use an effective pest control program. Scout fields regularly for potential pest problems.

RECOMMENDED HARVEST AND POST-HARVEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

• Harvesting High Starch Corn: To avoid excessive mechanical damage to kernels make sure the combine is properly adjusted. Combine and keep border rows separate for use as feed.
• Drying Strategies. Field drying is best and allows the kernel to reach full-maturity, but corn can be machine dried at low to moderate temperatures. Grain kernel temperature should be kept below 140? F during the entire drying process to minimize reductions in starch quality. Normal high temperature drying (> 180–200º) bakes the kernel and reduces its value to millers. In addition, HES content can decrease by 4-6% if high moisture corn is dried at high temperatures.
• Corn Handling and Cleaning: Make sure that augers, especially those used during mechanical drying, are not causing grain damage. Keep augers full when running and consider replacing pulleys to reduce auger speed and maintain grain quality. Clean dry corn before placing it into a storage bin to improve airflow and reduce the potential for spoilage problems. Storage bins should be swept clean prior to placing grain in them to reduce insect and contamination problems. Once a month, during the fall and winter, you should run a cooling cycle to lower grain temperature by 10 to 15° F. The remainder of the time, the fan should be covered to minimize moisture accumulation in the stored grain, especially during premature warming periods in the early spring.

SAMPLE PARTIAL BUDGET ANALYSIS

• Per Acre Variable Cost Comparison:

• Premium:
  Premiums range from $.07 - $.15 per bushel
  Average premium = $.10 ²
  Contractors figure base corn price on Chicago Board of Trade prices.
  
• Increased Profit Potential Per Acre:
  Regular Hybrid Corn:
  155 Bu/acre x $2.35 per Bu = $364.25
  $364.25 - $196.00 expenses = $168.25 per acre Regular Hybrid Corn
  High Starch Corn:
  155 Bu/acre x ($2.35 per Bu + $.10 per Bu premium) = $379.75
  $379.75 - $196.00 expenses = $183.75 per acre High Starch Corn

• Trucking Costs:
  Semi - $2.00 per loaded mile. (Note: Trucking costs may be higher for high starch corn if producers must truck it further than regular hybrid corn.)