Understanding production insurance for high vomitoxin levels
Staff Writer
Farms.com
With vomitoxin (DON) in Ontario grain corn on the
rise this year, many growers are concerned about production insurance coverage.
If a crop is unmarketable due to DON, Agricorp may write it off upon proof of rejection. Agricorp will reduce your final yields to exclude corn that is written off and destroyed. If final yields are below your guaranteed production, you may be eligible to receive payment. Click
here to understand how yields are reduced.
An adjuster will work with you through the claims process, a recent Agricorp factsheet says, to assess
• the marketability of your crop
• proof of rejections, which should be in writing and contain your name, elevator or dealer name, and why your crop was rejected
• the results of DON level tests taken before or at harvest, especially if you are storing the crop on farm
• the destruction of any crop
Consistent wet weather and excess rainfall contributed to ear mould in grain corn this year.
Industry representatives tested corn ear samples, collected from Sept. 21 to 28, and found that 60 per cent of them ranked low (<2.00 ppm) for vomitoxin (DON), a type of mycotoxin.
Visual mould is greater in this year’s results compared to last year’s, and many samples had elevated DON concentrations. Producers should be aware of management options in fields with greater ear mould and DON concentrations, an October OMAFRA field crop
report said.
Agronomists “seem to be finding (DON) around cobs that have tight husks,” Brent Melady, agronomist for Wellburn Agromart, told Farms.com today.
While management options at harvest are limited, he suggested options to mitigate risk with in next year’s corn crop.
“The biggest thing is (corn) variety. Spraying (crops) with a fungicide will reduce it,” he said.
If your crop is affected by DON, call Agricorp immediately to report damages and any changes to crops.
For further information about DON level testing and management practices for storage and handling, call OMAFRA at 1-877-424-1300.
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