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Test for aflatoxin before putting grain in the bin
If corn growers suspect they might have insured grain affected by aflatoxin, there are important procedures to follow. Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Field Supervisor Clint Meek says preliminary black light tests can be done at the elevator, but adjustors or agents need to be called.
“We need to collect the sample ourselves,” said Meek, referring to crop insurance agents or adjustors. “We run into some issues every year with this; we can’t pull samples out of grain bins, the insured can’t pull a sample themselves, so our adjusting staff will talk to these insureds and go through the options.”
The options, according to Meek, are to have an adjustor out prior to, or during harvest. A grower can also leave unharvested strips if an adjustor is not able to be at the field in time.
Meek says it’s necessary to test for aflatoxin before grain is stored, because once in a bin, he says, aflatoxin grows, therefore testing higher and getting docked more.
“That’s why RMA, I think put the rule in place that [testing] has to be done prior to that, so the insurance companies and the industry isn’t paying for a loss that occurred simply because someone put aflatoxin in their bin and let it sit,” said Meek.
Despite the worry and greater number of tests being done this year, Meek says occurrence of aflatoxin is not very high. Just the same, he advises that if there’s doubt, farmers should consult adjustors or agents.
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