Packaging and shipping food is a challenge that many manufacturers and producers face, especially during harvest seasons like corn season in Texas. For farmers and agricultural businesses, their products are often shipped at certain times of year, such as when crops are harvested. Not all crops are planted and harvested at the same time of year, but when it's the right season for a certain crop, everything becomes busy very quickly. In Texas, millions of acres of corn are planted each year, with harvesting beginning as early as July and continuing until as late as November.
Processing and transporting food is regulated by a number of regulatory federal bodies. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is responsible for much of the oversight of the agricultural industry, although other bodies such as the FDA are involved too. For businesses preparing to ship corn during corn season in Texas, it's important to consider how to package and ship it in line with any regulations and requirements.
Texas corn growers plant 2 million acres of corn every year. Corn typically takes around 120 days to mature, although the exact time depends on the different hybrids. Each acre yields approximately 105 bushels of corn, with more than 285 million bushels harvested from 2014 to 2019.
Corn in Texas is used for a variety of purposes, beyond serving as a food product for both people and animals.
Of all the corn produced in the US, just 1% is grown for human consumption. Corn is a valuable commodity in Texas, and 96% of it is used to feed livestock. Ethanol production from corn also produces a by-product called distillers grains, which are also fed to livestock.
Corn season in Texas can start as early as January when farmers might begin to plant their corn for the year. They could plant their crops as late as June. In order to plant and harvest at the right time. Farmers need to ensure the soil is warm enough for planting and that the young plants won't be damaged by frost.
Corn is harvested when it reaches maturity, about 120 days after planting, which means it is being harvested from July to as late as November.
The dates for planting and harvesting corn in Texas depend on several different factors:
During corn season in Texas, there is clearly a lot of corn being moved within and outside the state. Businesses handling corn and its products need to know how to appropriately ship their goods. They need to be able to protect their produce and preserve it, to ensure it remains in good condition and can be used for its intended purpose.
Need help with freight shipping from Texas to Idaho? See how an expert logistics partner can keep your corn moving.
The US is the world's largest exporter of corn, which means that much of the corn from Texas and elsewhere is shipped not just around the country but also internationally. Although most of the corn in the country is produced in the Midwest, Texas still produces a significant amount of corn.
There are several steps that corn producers should take when shipping corn in Texas.
All businesses need to be thorough in their duties during corn season in Texas and send shipments outside of Texas. One of the most important responsibilities is to check shipments for the presence of insects and mites, such as borers and others that can infect corn crops.
How corn is packaged for shipment depends on the form in which it is being transported. Some corn is dry for shipping, which means that it can be shipped in bulk and kept up to 12 months or even longer. Corn is either shipped in bulk or sometimes in bags, depending on the type of corn.
Some of the options for shipping corn can include loading bags, totes or bulk loads into shipping containers. There are various things that need to be considered, including the management of moisture. If there is too much moisture, it could lead to the growth of mold.
If you need to ship corn in Texas, R+L Global Logistics is here to help you with your needs. While truckload shipping is a major component of what we do, we focus on the entire supply chain to ensure a productive and efficient process.
In addition to truckload shipping, we also offer:
When harvests like corn season in Texas arrives, make sure that you are paired up with the best partner to ship corn in Texas. We make it easy for you to get your produce where it needs to go. We can also help you with your oil and gas logistics in Texas? Need help in Georgia? We can assist with shipping Georgia poultry too and handle shipping needs in other states as well. Contact us today and we’ll take care of the rest.
R+L Global Logistics
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