HGCA's New Mycotoxin Risk Assessment Campaign

UK - A new campaign has been launched by the Home Grown Cereals Authority (HGCA), highlighting its Mycotoxin Risk Assessment.
calendar icon 29 June 2010
clock icon 3 minute read

A new campaign aimed at cereal growers and focusing on timely completion of the HGCA fusarium mycotoxin risk assessment has been launched this month.

The HGCA risk assessment enables growers to calculate their risk of mycotoxin contamination by entering values for region, previous crop, cultivation, wheat variety, T3 fungicide application and rainfall.


The new HGCA MycoToxins campaign logo

"The HGCA risk assessment tool highlights all the factors of good agricultural practice," says HGCA's research manager, Dr Simon Hook. "Growers should already have the information they need to complete the risk assessment to the T3 stage."

A new logo will front the campaign, which focuses on timely e-shots backed up by direct mail and press information aimed at reminding growers to complete the relevant stages of the HGCA risk assessment. Growers will also be signposted to fusarium mycotoxin updates on the Crop Monitor web tool [click here].

"Filling it in along the way from now until harvest will help ensure the mycotoxin risk result is obtained quickly and accurately," added Dr Hook. This will help growers monitor their situation regarding potential mycotoxin contamination and, if necessary, take appropriate steps to reduce further risk."

From now until harvest, growers also have to record details of rainfall at flowering (growth stage 59 to 69) and rainfall pre-harvest (growth stage 87 onwards). Assured growers visiting the Cereals event on 9 and 10 June were able to pick up a free Red Tractor rain gauge and a mycotoxin information pack.

The risk assessment, which is available online [click here], has been reviewed since the wet harvest of 2008 to ensure it remains a robust and relevant tool for growers. Background information on fusarium mycotoxins and grain storage is also available on the web site.

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