Post-Harvest Handling of Shelled Corn: Controlling Moisture and Aflatoxin
Corn for feed and industry must be dry and mould-free. These are the post-harvest steps we apply before corn enters our warehouse.
Most corn from North Sumatra goes to the animal feed industry, which is strict about two things: moisture and aflatoxin, a toxin produced by mould on damp corn.
Harvest at the right time
Corn is ready when the husks are dry and brown and the kernels are hard when pressed with a fingernail. Corn harvested too early is hard to dry, and its kernels shrivel easily.
Drying the cobs
Cobs are sun-dried or machine-dried before shelling. Delaying drying, and especially stacking wet corn in sacks, is the main cause of mould.
Shelling
Kernels are removed from the cob with a sheller. A properly adjusted machine reduces broken kernels, which are more prone to mould and storage pests.
Second drying
After shelling, the kernels are dried again to a moisture content of around 15 percent at most, as feed mills generally require. We measure the moisture of every delivery at the warehouse.
Storage
- Store in clean sacks on pallets, away from floors and walls.
- Keep the warehouse dry and ventilated.
- Apply first in, first out.
What we check before shipping
Moisture, the share of damaged and mouldy kernels, and foreign matter. If you need a laboratory aflatoxin test, state it in your PO so we can prepare the results.
Need shelled corn in volume? The minimum order is 5 tonnes. Register as a business partner.