Managing Food Safety Issues in Bulk Grains -Aflatoxin

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Managing Food Safety Issues in Bulk Grains
-Aflatoxin

• Do we need an early warning program?

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What is Important Here?

• Keep Cost Down
• Satisfy Crop Insurance Requirements (But No
  Games)
• Maintain Integrity of our Products
• Maintain Economic Viability of all Concerned

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What can be done in advance of harvest?

• Scout to Determine if a threat is present
• Hold meetings for farmers
• Use the press to disseminate information.
• Some of the above was done last year

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Problems with Aflatoxin Advance Notice

• You can be blamed for starting a panic
• Farmers will not pay attention unless it is
  publicized as a problem
• Does anyone care? Is our food supply important?
  Are consequences predictable?

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Possible Methods of Advance Warning of A Problem

• Coordinate with NASS to get samples to analyze.
• Set up Sentinel Plots (like with soybean rust)
• Develop a scouting system to check high risk
  areas (early August)

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Look at Past Years When Aflatoxin was a Problem

• Compare Weather Pattern
• Relate to Plant Stress
• Look at Insect Damage
• Build a Model
• Ground Truth with Scouting

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Advantages of Advance Notice

• Time for proper testing
• Can make plans for dealing with the Aflatoxin
  tainted corn.
• Segregation
• Combine settings
• Grain cleaning
• Time to find alternative markets
• List of Labs
• www.iowagrain.org

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Getting the Word Out

• Meetings
• Press/Media
• Web Sites
• Mailings
• Insurers?
• Extension?
• Grain Receivers?

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How should it be Funded?

• Surveys suggest public agencies conduct early
  warning system. The costs should be covered by
• Tax Dollars?
• Grant Funding?
• Other?

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Questions / Comments / Solutions?
Thank You.