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| The corn yield estimate below brings up the old argument of test weight and grain measurement. It all depends on how you define bushel. The original definition was as a volume measurement, a cylindrical container 18 1/2 inches in diameter and eight inches deep (bushel basket). Then it was changed to 2150.42 cubic inches. (if you want to confirm all this trivia, just google bushel). If we sold grain by this definition, instead of scales we'd use tape measures!!
Now bushels are used as a measure of mass. Somebody decided that a bushel basket of corn ususally weighed 56 pounds, so instead of measuring the volume of your truck bed, we'd just weigh the corn in it and divide by 56. Still not a problem until somebody decided that if your bushel basket of corn didn't weigh 56 pounds, then the corn had to be of inferior quality. Thus was born test weight and the dockage associated with it.
Still wouldn't be so bad, if the industry would reward above standard test weight with a premium. But, that ain't gonna happen.
What kind of standard for quality could/should be used instead of test weight???? Or, should it just be left alone?? | |
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What is a bushel??
