Maize Udarnik

Corn Udarnik is a grain crop widely used for producing low-fat corn grits, making it popular in the food industry for manufacturing corn sticks, snacks, and beer. The traditional corn processing technology used for producing Udarnik grits includes initial grinding of kernels in hammer mills, followed by separating the germ on pneumatic tables. This technology allows retaining the germ in whole form and using it as a food product, which distinguishes it favorably from new methods, where the germ is ground and primarily used for feed purposes. Modern improvements to the traditional technology, developed by the company, include pre-shelling of kernels to reduce impact loads, control systems for germ selection, and the use of pressing and polishing systems to enrich fine products, thereby enhancing processing quality and efficiency. Corn Udarnik is characterized by high economic attractiveness due to the retention of the germ, which on the Ukrainian market has a price comparable to grits, significantly higher than the price of flour obtained through new technologies. Additionally, traditional processing technology reduces risks of product spoilage associated with high moisture and fat content, typical of flour obtained through grinding. This ensures more stable quality of the final product and reduces the likelihood of mycotoxin formation, which is especially important for food and feed safety. The technology also features lower energy consumption and lower equipment maintenance costs compared to new methods. For successful cultivation of corn Udarnik, it is recommended to use specialized fertilizers, such as the complex microfertilizer REAKOM-PLUS-CORN. This product contains fully plant-available chelates of microelements and acts as an active growth stimulant, improving chlorophyll biosynthesis, enhancing plant immunity, and promoting better tolerance to stressful conditions such as heat and cold. The fertilizer is applied for pre-sowing seed treatment and foliar feeding of crops, which contributes to increasing corn yield by 8–10 centners per hectare. Recommended application rates are 3–4 liters per ton of seeds or per hectare for foliar feeding, making it an effective means for improving productivity and quality of the harvest.