Walcott, IA...by the big truck stop | We need to remember that when delivering higher test weight corn there is already a "premium" built in. Often times our corn tests at 58-60 lbs/bu, but the coop still uses 56 lbs/bu as the standard conversion factor from net weight to bushels. Do the math on a 36k lb net load.
36k lbs/ 56 lbs/bu = 642.86 bu <--- (you get paid for this many bushels)
36k lbs/ 60 lbs/bu = 600 bu <--- (when your corn by volume was only this many bushels)
The total weight of grain delivered was the same, but the higher test weight load of corn would get paid for an extra 42.86 bushels (even though it was less volume). Do some of the places you guys deliver to use the actual sample test weight for converting? If so, you would actually be penalized for delivering higher test weight corn there than compared to somewhere that uses the standard 56 lbs/ bu. Everyone knows which load they would rather deliver. Test weights lower than 56 lbs/bu are sometimes docked, but that is more for quality concerns rather than the actual weight. I will take those extra 42.86 bushels whenever I can get them (even at $3).
In reality, we deliver in terms of weight and get paid by the bushel (via conversion). There are not really "extra" bushels in the same load. The only way you really gain anything is if hauling volume is the limiting factor rather than weight. If that is the case, it pays to haul more bushels (more weight) in a smaller container (better density). |
test weights and "it's been a long time..." post from below (another point of view)
