Collection sites where farmers may leave corn samples for aflatoxin testing by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services include:
• Border Belt Tobacco Research Station, 86 Border Belt Drive, Whiteville, (910) 648-4703; Ty Marshall, superintendent.
• Peanut Belt Tobacco Research Station, 112 Research Station Lane, Lewiston-Woodville, (252) 348-2213; Tommy Corbett, superintendent. Station contact: Margaret Pierce.
• Tidewater Research Station, 207 Research Station Road, Plymouth, (252) 793-4118; Steven Barnes, superintendent.
• Lower Coastal Plain Tobacco/Cunningham Research Station, 200 Cunningham Road, Kinston, (252) 527-3579; Phillip Winslow, superintendent.
• Piedmont Research Station, 8350 Sherrills Ford Road, Salisbury, (704) 278-2624; Joe K. Hampton, superintendent.
• Mountain Horticultural Crops Research Station, 74 Research Drive, Fletcher, (828) 684-7197; Denny Thompson, superintendent.
Forms and bags needed for submitting samples will be available at collection sites. For additional information about the aflatoxin testing program, contact Ken Jones or Michelle Willett at the NCDA&CS Food and Drug Protection Division, (919) 733-7366.
Samples may be mailed directly to the lab: North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Food and Drug Protection Division,1070 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C. 27699
Aflatoxin is a byproduct of the mold Aspergillus flavus. It can be harmful to both humans and livestock, so limits have been set for aflatoxin levels in corn. Testing is free to farmers and will be conducted at the Constable Laboratory, 4000 Reedy Creek Road in Raleigh.
