Marketable Characteristics of Corn

Date: 7/07
Position Number: I-A-3
Expires: 3/08

Background: The primary purpose of the official U.S. standards for grain should be to describe and certify the quality of grain as accurately as practical. They should:

• Define uniform and accepted descriptive terms to facilitate trade in grain;
• Provide information to aid in determining grain storability;
• Promote the retention of the quality of the grain during the marketing process;
• Offer end users the best possible information from which to determine end product yield, quality and value;
• Provide the framework necessary for markets to establish grain quality improvement incentives.

Resolution/Position:

1. Support the development of a national grain quality strategy as new concepts in grain quality emerge that are of importance to end users in addition to the current grading standards that will be to the benefit of the U.S. corn farmer and strengthen our competitive advantage.
2. Support research, development and testing of end-use quality characteristics of processing and/or breeding of corn for the benefit of our customers.
3. Support the development and standardization of equipment and sampling/testing procedures and calibration that would quickly and accurately determine the intrinsic value of corn, and encourage the market to reward that value.
4. Grain marketing value should be determined on a dry matter and intrinsic value basis.
5. Support the development and use of a “Best Efforts” contract for the production and merchandising of conventional and identity preserved corn.
6. Request further definition and verifiable testing of “Organic Products.”
7. Support the industry’s initiatives to develop unique marketable characteristics of corn.