Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure
3.11.
Maize harvest in Ecuador.
If the grain is stored on the farm, the farmer must construct rat-proof bins and protect it
from insects and moisture. Even then, losses of 30 to 40 percent are common.
Harvest by a subsistence farmer is aimed to conserve the maize ears before birds
and rodents eat the grain in the field. Usually, the cob is left with the husk intact to give
some protection against insects. If the farmer is lucky enough to have a metal barrel, the
grain will be stored safe from rodents. Another common method is to hang the ears
from rafters in the kitchen where smoke from the cooking protects them from insects
and mice. Even with these measures, losses of 40 to 50 percent are common. Varieties
of sorghum are cultivated with naturally high levels of tannin to reduce losses by
insects, animals, and fungus.
Stored maize and sorghum are both subject to attack by fungi that produce toxins
such as aflatoxin. These can have serious, even fatal, effects on humans and animals.
This is especially dangerous in humid areas.
3.2.10 Marketing
Sale of grain by commercial farmers in the United States is usually done at the time of
harvest. Grain will typically move directly from the field to a grain elevator, where it is
delivered to a buyer. Payment is made later that month for the grain delivered. If the
grain has not dried to around 15 percent moisture, there may be some discount, or
drying charge. In many cases, the operator of the grain elevator will have sold the
grain on a “futures” contract several months before the harvest. This gives the operator
a sure market for the grain still to be purchased and guarantees the price he will receive.
It also gives him a price to be paid to farmers.
Often large commercial farmers will sign a contract to deliver their grain directly
to a beef or poultry farmer for a guaranteed price. In this case, they bypass the
intermediary and sell directly to the end user.
Small commercial farmers often have little choice in their marketing of harvested
grain. If they have a farm truck, they will carry the grain to a central market, where it
