There is no requirement that every load be tested.
That’s a function of the quality protocol a facility may choose to implement, whether it’s a grain elevator, feed mill, or processor.
The key thing is that most mycotoxin problems in the Midwest already occur in the field.
They are then carried into storage.
Generally speaking, relatively less of a mycotoxin develops during storage itself.
So knowing the disease load during the growing season is what we typically pay attention to.
Then we try to identify areas of the state, the Corn Belt, or the country that is having issues with mycotoxins.
That’s typically a more targeted effort.
Mycotoxin testing is relatively easy to do and relatively inexpensive. It’s available at state labs, such as the Iowa Grain Quality Initiative.
Many elevators and feed mills are equipped with that testing capability.
Getting a representative sample off of the grain mass is key to get a result that is meaningful.
Reprinted from Grain Journal July/August 2020 Issue