North Carolina urging aflatoxin test for corn

<p> North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner <person>Steve Troxler</person> is encouraging growers to have their corn tested for aflatoxin to prevent contamination of feeds and food.</p><p> Aflatoxin is a byproduct of the mold Aspergillus flavus, and can be harmful to both humans and livestock.</p><p> “The hot summer and the heavy rains from Hurricane Irene have increased the potential for aflatoxin in corn,” Troxler said. “It’s very important that farmers have their corn tested.”</p><p> Some farmers may need to have corn samples tested for crop insurance or quality assurance purposes. These samples must be submitted to a grain marketing location certified by the <org>U.S. Department of Agriculture</org>. The tests cost <money>$22.20</money> per sample.</p><p> For insurance or quality assurance purposes, farmers must submit a 5-pound sample of shelled corn by mail, UPS or <org value="NYSE:FDX" idsrc="xmltag.org">FedEx</org> to a <org>USDA</org>-certified grain marketing location.</p><p> The following locations can conduct <org>USDA</org>-certified testing, and they will accept samples <chron>between 6:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.</chron> weekdays:</p><p> Cargill Soybean Plant?Attn: Ben Honeycutt?1400 S. Blount St.?Raleigh, N.C. 27601,?(919) 733-4491.</p><p> Grain Grading Office?Attn: Judy Grimes?407-G Griffin St.?Elizabeth City, N.C. 27909,?(252) 337-9782</p><p> Farmers who grow or buy bulk corn to feed to their own animals can have it tested for free by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ <org>Constable Laboratory</org>, <location>4000 Reedy Creek Road</location> in <location value="LU/us.nc.raleig" idsrc="xmltag.org">Raleigh</location>. This laboratory is not on the Risk Management Agency’s approved testing facility list; therefore, results from this location will not be accepted for insurance claims.</p><p> Farmers may drop off 5-pound samples of shelled corn at the lab or at one of the following agricultural research stations:</p><p> • <location>Border Belt Tobacco Research Station</location>, <location>86 Border Belt Drive</location>, <location value="LU/us.nc.whille" idsrc="xmltag.org">Whiteville</location>, (910) 648-4703; <person>Lloyd Ransom</person>, superintendent.</p><p> • <location>Peanut Belt Tobacco Research Station</location>, <location>112 Research Station Lane</location>, <location value="LU/us.nc.leille" idsrc="xmltag.org">Lewiston-Woodville</location>, (252) 348-2213; <person>Tommy Corbett</person>, superintendent; station contact is <person>Margaret Pierce</person>.</p><p> • <location>Tidewater Research Station</location>, <location>207 Research Station Road</location>, <location value="LU/us.nc.plymou" idsrc="xmltag.org">Plymouth</location>, (252) 793-4118; <person>Jewell Tetterton</person>, superintendent.</p><p> • <location>Lower Coastal Plain Tobacco/Cunningham Research Station</location>, <location>200 Cunningham Road</location>, <location value="LU/us.nc.kinton" idsrc="xmltag.org">Kinston</location>, (252) 527-3579; <person>Phillip Winslow</person>, superintendent.</p><p> • <location>Piedmont Research Station</location>, <location>8350 Sherrills Ford Road</location>, <location value="LU/us.nc.salsby" idsrc="xmltag.org">Salisbury</location>, (704) 278-2624; <person>Joe Hampton</person>, superintendent.</p><p> • <location>Mountain Horticultural Crops Research Station</location>, <location>74 Research Drive</location>, Fletcher, (828) 684-7197; <person>Denny Thompson</person>, superintendent.</p><p> Forms for submitting samples will be available at collection sites.</p><p> Samples also may be mailed directly to the lab at the following address:</p><p> North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services?Food and Drug Protection Division?1070 Mail Service Center?Raleigh, N.C. 27699-1070</p><p> For additional information about the aflatoxin testing program, contact <person>Jennifer Godwin</person> or <person>Michelle Gilliam</person> at the NCDA&CS Food and Drug Protection Division, (919) 733-7366.</p>