In the Kursk branch of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Center for the Assessment of the Quality of Agricultural Products," samples of corn continue to be submitted for research. Over the course of 11 months, the laboratory at the branch conducted 27.9 thousand tests on corn, with the total volume of verified grain amounting to 1.21 million tons.
Experts examine the grain for compliance with the requirements of GOST 13634-90 "Corn. Requirements for harvesting and supplies," as well as analyze its quality and safety indicators in accordance with the requirements of the technical regulations of the Customs Union TR TS 015/2011 "On the safety of grain."
Laboratory tests include the analysis of qualitative indicators such as color, aroma, moisture, composition of impurities (weed and cereal), presence of harmful impurities, and infestation by pests. Additionally, the main safety parameters are examined: content of heavy metals, radioactive elements, pesticides, and the presence of GMOs. Specialists pay particular attention to the content of mycotoxins in corn grain.
– All tested samples of corn fully comply with the established requirements and demonstrate high quality indicators, – emphasized the director of the Kursk branch, Elena Kolmogorova.
Employees of the Kursk branch also monitor the export deliveries of 62.3 thousand tons of corn to Belarus, Latvia, and Azerbaijan. All dispatched batches fully comply with the established requirements, as confirmed by the test results.
Specialists from the Kursk branch recommend adhering to the basic rules of preparing and storing corn to maintain its quality and prevent losses. First and foremost, storing moist grain is not allowed. If the moisture level exceeds 14%, it is necessary to pre-dry the corn to prevent the occurrence of mold and other negative consequences.
Prior to storage, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the grain, removing all foreign impurities, including grains of other crops, weed seeds, soil, and poor-quality corn grains such as damaged, sprouted, having non-standard color, blackened, or greened.
To protect the grain from pests, it is necessary to carry out disinfection. This will ensure additional safety of the product during long-term storage.