Grain lab joins the combine

In response, commodity buyers and food processors often offer price premiums for specified characteristics.

To make the most of those price premiums, producers need to measure and document the characteristics of grain going through their combines. Price premiums might be offered for factors such as oil content, protein, starch, falling numbers and seed size.

Differentiation and identity preservation (IP) become critical factors at harvest. Noticing and segregating higher value crop as it runs through the combine allows the producer to bin it separately.

For example, if there’s a price premium on high protein grain, a grower might decide to harvest the knolls first and haul that grain to designated bins. Knowing the protein of grain going through the combine allows him to combine the tops of the knoll and down the slope until protein begins to drop off.