Maize grain have a high moisture content in the harvest period, and a model to calculate the JKR surface energy between high-humidity maize grains was developed. A system was designed and used to measure the contact angle. The effects of different factors on the JKR surface energy were investigated. The results showed that the JKR surface energy of maize grains increased with increasing moisture content and temperature. The content of crude starch in grains is the main factor that affects the JKR surface energy. The JKR model and no slip model of EDEM were used to simulate the collision of high-humidity maize grains, and the results were compared with the physical tests. The data obtained by the JKR model are compared with those obtained by Young model and OWRK model. The results provide a reference for the calculation of the JKR surface energy of other particles with high moisture content. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.