Tag: harvest

Q3’18 Tech Tip from EnviroLogix Tech Support

Posted on by Brian Harris

Take it from someone who’s spoken with countless people stuck in the following predicament: there’s nothing worse than having to get harvest in and running out of combs or strips. The truck lines get longer and longer. Every lost minute results in lost revenue. With QuickScan II, that horrible scenario can permanently become a thing of the past. The new QuickScan II quantitative GMO and mycotoxin detection instrument, launched by EnviroLogix last month, has an inventory management tool that tracks your current test inventory and will count each use as you process your inbound or outbound grain.

Once your inventory falls to a certain a level of tests, set by you to suit your needs, the QuickScan II will send an email to you (or to EnviroLogix) to make ordering that much easier for you. It will be one less thing to worry about during your busy season, letting you focus on everything else you have to get done.

Let’s take a look under the hood to see how this great feature works.

QuickScan II Inventory tab
The Inventory tab from the QuickScan II’s settings
  • Enter received inventory of QuickCombs, QuickStix, and QuickTox Strips into the Inventory Tab to activate the alerts to low inventory levels, set by you. Alerts are given when the number of strips or combs remaining is less than the Low-Level Warning number. Alerts are given as a pop-up dialog in the results screen and as an email to a designated email address.
  • From the Select A Test Kit: drop-down menu, select the test kit for inventory tracking, then click the Add button.
  • Enter the number of tubes, or canisters (for single-strip kits), or number of pouches (for combs) into column 1. The program will automatically convert number of tubes to strips (50 strips per canister) or convert number of pouches to combs (5 combs per pouch).
  • Enter the number of remaining strips or combs to activate a Low-Inventory warning.
  • Inventory can be adjusted manually at any time.
  • To activate the option email feature, enter an email address in the Notification box in the lower left corner and click the Save button. Please note: this requires an email program to be installed and set up on the QuickScan II. Contact your IT Department to set up an email account.

As you can see, this feature can be a game changer in your site management, giving you the freedom to focus on the other important aspects of your business.

If you have a QuickScan II and want help implementing this feature, call Technical Support at (866) 408-4597 ext. 2, or email us at techsupport@envirologix.com.

If you’re interested in ordering a QuickScan II, call (866) 408-4597, ext. 1, or email us at info@envirologix.com.

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Monitor Your Crops for Aflatoxin During and After Harvest

Posted on by Brian Harris

When you notice mold on food, you throw it out. But what if the mold was invisible—or even worse, invisible and incredibly toxic? That is the case with aflatoxin, one of the most poisonous natural compounds on Earth.

Aflatoxins are compounds produced by certain strains of Aspergillus fungi; aflatoxin-producing molds can grow under a broad range of temperature and moisture conditions, as well as across numerous crops. It is thought that more recent extreme weather and drought cycles are increasing the prevalence of aflatoxins.

Although there are some regulations around aflatoxin testing, enforcement is not consistent, and in developing countries, non-existent. The threat to humans, livestock, and pets is real, with effects ranging from mild (headaches, vomiting, disorientation) to severe (carcinogenic effects, reproductive issues, encephalopathy). It also presents a threat to billions of dollars’ worth of international trade; most recently evidenced by the rejection of several vessels of Brazilian corn bound for international destinations which contained dangerously high levels of aflatoxin.

Typically, aflatoxin gains a foothold in a crop during the harvest season.  However, the real threat comes during storage. The combined conditions of heat and moisture can multiply the level of aflatoxin exponentially in improperly stored crops.

Understanding our customers’ needs to efficiently screen field crops for aflatoxin, EnviroLogix was first to present the industry with an affordable aflatoxin screening tool in 2003. We continued our leadership in mycotoxin testing with the introduction of quantification via QuickScan. And that ongoing commitment to innovation has led to our newest offering: USDA/GIPSA-Certified Aflatoxin Flex.

EnviroLogix’ Flex mycotoxin testing products offer wider ranges of results at the levels most important to you. Designed to meet the most recent USDA/GIPSA criteria, Flex kits deliver accurate results in often adverse environmental conditions. And utilizing the powerful QuickScan system, the Flex line leverages all the traceability and computing power that customers have come to rely on.

Read the full news release.

Winter Wheat Harvest Woes

Posted on by Brian Harris

Wheat harvest season is well underway for many U.S. wheat growers. Some of the first soft-red wheat harvested by U.S. farmers in 2015 is the worst in at least 17 years, according to Bloomberg and other sources.

This year’s heavy rainfalls  – up to three times the normal amount – have made mycotoxin diseases like vomitoxin more prominent in many wheat-growing states.

USDA scouts recently noted that “there have been reports of elevators rejecting wheat loads due to the presence of vomitoxin,” a toxic fungal residue, also known as Deoxynialenol or DON. “Winter wheat left unharvested continues to have quality issues, including problems with scab, sprouting and mold,” the scouts added. In Michigan, official scouts said that “intermittent rain showers limited the amount of winter wheat harvested this week – moisture levels were reported as high, and some growers reported vomitoxin issues.” And in Ohio, USDA staff said that “some wheat has been of such poor quality, it is not able to be sold.”

Soft-red winter wheat is typically sold to mills and turned into flour, which is then used to make consumer products like crackers and cookies. However, the poor quality of this year’s winter wheat harvest means that it may only consumable in animal feed. According to the USDA Risk Management Agency, high levels of vomitoxin may result in either a discount in price or the requirement to destroy the grain.

So how can you avoid contamination in your crops? There is no sure DON prevention, as environmental conditions play a big part. However, there are several good practices for controlling it such as crop rotation, choosing a variety with some resistance, applying fungicides in a timely manner and tillage practices. Iowa State University engineer Charles Hurburgh warns that storing wet grain, even overnight and especially without aeration, shortens its life considerably. You should check it weekly, monitoring for spikes in the temperature, and test it regularly for evidence of DON or other mycotoxins.