It is generally assumed that higher yielding corn has higher quality characteristics, including higher starch and oil. Variation in corn quality has shown to have observable impacts on ethanol yields. Studies have shown overall variability in ethanol production between low performing and high performing corn samples can range from 3% to 23%. This variability in corn can result in substantial loss of quantity and quality of dry grind ethanol products. In a 100 MGY ethanol plant, an average 3% loss of ethanol due to corn quality is equivalent to 3 million gallons per year.

Read the report from the Novozymes North America Technical Service at the link below.