Centralia ag lab remaining open to test for aflatoxin, nitrates

State officials tell RFD Radio affiliate WJBD in Salem that the grain testing facilities will remain open, but the animal ag section will close as scheduled at the end of August. We have a report from WJBD's Bruce Kropp.

Compiled by staff

Published: Jul 31, 2012

The state’s Centralia Animal Disease Laboratory will continue providing “essential” crop testing “until further notice,” but not animal disease testing, Acting Illinois Agriculture Director Bob Flider alerted FarmWeekNow.

The Centralia lab will stop providing animal disease testing on Aug. 31 and will transfer those services to the Galesburg Animal Disease Laboratory, Flider said.

“The governor indicated he wants to make sure we have the essential crop testing and toxicology work” available because of the drought, Flider said.

Dr. Gene Niles, the Centralia lab director, said the lab will stop accepting samples for animal disease testing on Aug. 15 and distribute those test results by Aug. 31.

After Aug. 31, the lab would maintain its current business hours “until further notice,” Niles said. The lab will continue to test corn samples for nitrate levels and aflatoxin, he said.

The demand for nitrate testing remains high. On Monday, the lab received 60 samples for nitrate testing. In July, the lab has tested 600 samples for nitrate levels, according to Niles.

Overall, about 4 percent of the tested samples have nitrate levels too high to feed to any animals, Niles estimated.

State fiscal challenges, the reason for the lab changes, remain, Flider noted. “We are finding ways to be more efficient,” he said.

Permalink: Click here

Comments

Read comments from others and share your own thoughts.

Please provide the answer to the following question:

=

Search this site:

Read More Stories

Farmland prices moderate after incredible run

The drop in crop prices in recent months apparently took some steam out of the farmland market. We have comments from Chicago Fed economist David Oppedahl.

Read this story


Northern Illinois small grains program June 20

The event is co-sponsored by the Illinois Wheat Association and U of I Extension.

Read this story


Cash soybean basis levels fall for third day

Some soybean processors are beginning to price beans out to the August and November contracts.

Read this story

Farmland prices moderate after incredible run

Rainy week ahead for Illinois farmers

Northern Illinois small grains program June 20

Farm Bill key to direct-to-consumer efforts

Drought could have lasting impact on livestock production

Cash soybean basis levels fall for third day

Farm bill key front in staying EPA's hand

IEPA explains implementation of NPDES pesticide permits

Record flooding now forecast for Illinois River

Supreme Court upholds Monsanto patents

Top 50 Tags