Notice to Grain Dealers, Farmers this Harvest Season

Follow requirements to ensure crop insurance coverage for potential losses

ANNAPOLIS, MD (June 9, 2010) – Last year Maryland farmers experienced significant crop losses due to vomitoxin contamination. As grain harvest begins, the Maryland Department of Agriculture today reminds grain dealers and farmers to be aware of handling and testing requirements to ensure appropriate crop insurance coverage for losses due grain contamination.

Federal crop insurance covers losses from vomitoxin, aflatoxin and fumonision depending upon severity. However, producers must follow detailed handling and testing requirements developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency (RMA). This harvest season, please keep in mind the following points:

• As soon as vomitoxin, aflatoxin or fumonision issue is discovered, insured farmers should immediately contact their crop insurance agent for instructions on grain handling so that they do not jeopardize their potential loss claim.
• The presence of the toxin must be due to insured causes.
• Grain with vomitoxin can be tested for crop insurance purposes in farm storage, other toxins have to be tested on the farm.

In 2009, Maryland received federal crop disaster designation for 10 counties due to vomitoxin contamination resulting from wet weather that occurred in May and June 2009. Persistent spring rain throughout most of the State caused significant contamination in wheat and barley harvest in the form of vomitoxin, which can make the crop unmarketable or unusable as feed. Farmers in the disaster designation areas experienced market value losses ranging from 30 to 55 percent.

Vomitoxin (deoxynivalenol toxin), may be produced in wheat and barley grain infected by the fungus, Fusarium head blight (FHB) or scab.

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