Corn Key Terms

Learn about some words associated with the business of corn

By Jason Wood

Corn is a staple of the world economy. Whether it is being processed as feed, processed for ethanol or turned into a wonderful loaf of corn bread, the business of corn has far-reaching tentacles.

If you're in the business of corn, there are some key terms that you should familiarize yourself with so that you can easily understand published literature on the subject. Here are a few of those key terms along with some quality links.

Growing degree day, GDD

The Growing Degree Day, also known has GDD, is a mathematical equation that corn growers use to figure out when the corn crop will be ready. To calculate the equation, take the maximum and minimum temperatures for each day in the season and divide by two. This is the base temperature. Next, locate the mean for the current day. Subtract the base temperature from the mean temperature. If the mean temperature is negative, then it is changed to zero. The number is then compiled over the course of a season.
Try: Visit the website for North Dakota State University for further information on Growing Degree Days and how they are calculated. The Ontario Ministry of Food and Agriculture also has a comprehensive article.

Black layer

Black layer occurs on corn kernels when they have reached physiological maturity. This usually forms about 60 days after silking, or 20 days after denting, (the two dents found on each side of the corn kernel).
Try: Visit the website of Mississippi State University for a comprehensive article on black layer and how it relates to the commercial corn industry.

Yield component method

The Yield Component Method refers to an equation that farmers use to calculate four different aspects of the corn grain yield. The Yield Component Method figures the ear number, kernel rows, kernels divided by rows and the final weight per kernel.
Try: Visit the website for Purdue University for more information on how to calculate on estimating corn grain by using the Yield Component Method.

Wet feed mills

Wet corn milling refers to a process of milling corn that separates each kernel into four parts. Starch, fiber, germ and protein are all separated during this process.
Try: Visit the website for the Corn Refiners Association. There is an explanation of the products produced during the wet milling process. Be sure to also click on their "process" link for a more in-depth discussion.

Yellow dent corn, field corn

Yellow dent corn, or field corn as it's sometimes referred to, is the corn most commonly grown by commercial farms. With a thicker skin and different starch content than the "sweet corn" Americans eat as a vegetable, yellow dent corn must be ground or processed with lye in order for it to be consumed. The "dent" refers to the two dents found on each side of the corn kernel.
Try: Visit the website for Walton Feed for more information and a discussion article on yellow dent corn.

Hybrid corn

Hybrid corn refers to two different varieties of corn which have been mated together to produce a new variety of corn. 95% of commercially planted corn is now hybrid corn. Scientists have developed hybrid corn that uses less water and can be planted closer together yielding a greater harvest.
Try: Visit the website for the United States Department of Agriculture for a further explanation on hybrid corn and how it is used commercially today.