People always want the best of both worlds – and good heavy test weight with a fast die/fast drydown product is no exception to those wants!  As you combine your fields this fall and evaluate your hybrid selection from 2024 we hope these tips below will help you select the best hybrids for your farm in 2025.

Grain Quality

Why does this even matter?

The majority of our number 2 yellow corn gets used as livestock feed (40%) and the rest gets used in ethanol or other industrial uses (60%). Therefore the main focus for growers who grow number 2 yellow dent corn is on the quality of grain you deliver to your local market which means keeping the percent of heat damage, foreign material, diseased, etc. to a minimum. This is also where your test weight comes into play so you can maintain at least Number 2 grade (see TW discussion below for more details on this part of grain quality). The major factors are your soil fertility, weed control, how well you controlled disease and stress throughout the season, and harvest timing along with how well you set your combine. 

Livestock producers growing corn for silage should consider grain quality in different regards including how vitreous the kernel is (how opaque vs. translucent) to increase digestibility and efficiency of your silage as feedstock. In this case genetics (hybrid selection) and the environment (including soil fertility and late season plant health) play a big role in grain quality and how efficient your corn is as food for your livestock. Nitrogen rate also affects the amount of protein and the type of protein in the kernel. Typically silage specific hybrids include ratings on overall plant characteristics and many times these are dual purpose hybrids which have good silage characteristics while still maintaining the high yield and standability of grain corn hybrids.  

Grain quality is more than just “how yellow the corn is” and “how pretty it looks”.  Grain quality is a number of factors such as: protein, oil, starch, and fiber content. We don’t typically see a change in grain quality because of delay in harvest, but environmental factors throughout the growing season do impact grain quality.  Along with hybrid selection & nutrients available.  For example, protein content in corn is tied closely to nitrogen use and availability during the growing season. So not only does nitrogen affect yield, it also affects quality.  Having adequate nutrients available is important to growing corn with good grain quality. Whatever your end use will be, hybrid selection and the fertility under its “feet” play a big role in grain quality at the end of the season. 

Test Weight

What’s more important: Test Weight or Bushels per acre? 

Test weight is simply a volumetric measurement of approximately 1.24 cubic ft, otherwise known as a bushel. So it really shouldn’t be called test weight at all, it should be called Test Volume.   A volumetric bushel was once used (hence the bushel basket) to trade grain.  In today's world a bushel is more of an arbitrary measurement that is represented by a standard weight for each crop, which in the case of corn is 56 lbs at 15.0% moisture.

So what is the significance of test weight?

Test weight still represents how many pounds of kernels will fit into a volumetric bushel.  Kernel size doesn’t change much - it’s the weight of each kernel that changes.  So in reality we are after kernel weight.  Today the main use of test weight is to grade the grain. We sell number 2 yellow corn, which along with other factors it has to meet the minimum test weight of 54 lbs. If it is below 54 lbs/bu you will be docked, in most cases.

Think about a bowling ball vs. a basketball.  Both hold the same amount of volume, roughly, but a bowling ball has more mass.  Thus - we can use less bowling balls to get to our final desired weight on a semi-load.  It would take more basketballs to fill the semi-load and we would have to take more trips to get to the same desired weight thus - we would be more inefficient.

If you have higher than 56 lb test weight there are some grain buyers in certain markets who will pay extra for higher test weight.  For example, a cent for each pound above 57 pound test weight. If you can sell into one of those markets then test weight is an advantage.  If you can’t, then the main advantage is you haul more bushels to town per load.

Yield and test weight are not correlated, meaning a high yielding hybrid may or may not have high test weight. The combine monitor is based on mass flow and the majority of yield monitors don’t adjust for test weight. Therefore with higher test weight you are hauling less loads to the bin which makes your time more efficient, but it doesn't affect your overall yield from each field.

The factors that affect test weight are primarily genetic characteristics of the kernel ((kernel type (% of dent vs. flint), seed size, seed coat slipperiness)) and kernel moisture. Kernel moisture plays a big role in how many kernels will fit into a bushel as the kernels dry down more will fit, therefore you will have higher test weight as the corn dries down.   Environment/stress is the last factor of test weight.  If corn is stressed during the last part of the season (R4-R6), accumulation of starch and ultimately test weight can be affected negatively.

Therefore, the point is genetics play a role into the test weight of each hybrid, but that is only one factor for hybrid selection, and shouldn’t be a deciding factor when trying to maximize yield on each field. Disease, standability, and early season growth characteristics should be higher on your list.  It’s fun to have the bragging rights at the coffee shop, or through social media, with your buddies on high test weight - but it shouldn’t be a deciding factor when selecting a hybrid that will work on your acres.  As always, please reach out to a Liqui-Grow Sales Applicator if you have any questions on hybrid selection.

Fast Die/Fast Dry

What are you giving up with hybrids like this? What are you gaining?

Fast Die/Fast Dry refers to those hybrids that lose moisture quickly in the fall. Test weight is not influenced by the rate at which a hybrid loses moisture, so it is possible to find good test weight hybrids that lose moisture quickly. This is advantageous for growers who want to start harvest early or just want their corn to dry down naturally in the field before they harvest it. Typically these hybrids have loose husk leaves, the ear droops so it won’t catch moisture, and they have kernel characteristics that allow the kernels to lose moisture easier out the pericarp (where the kernel dents). These are great hybrids to include in your lineup to help spread harvest workload or if your goal is to harvest drier corn, just pay attention to moisture because in some situations the ear shanks can become weak and ears can start to drop if allowed to dry down too far.  

Staying in touch with your Liqui-Grow sales applicator is the key to making sure your crops stay happy and healthy with increased rainfall this season.

Questions? Give us a shout! 

Text us at 564-220-2508 or email questions@liqui-grow.com.