Harvest brings plenty of decisions, from when to take a field out to where the grain will go next. But when wet conditions or other issues create grain quality concerns, there are additional steps producers need to consider.
Mold, sprouting, discoloration and kernel damage can affect harvested corn and soybeans. When those issues arise, understanding what to document, when to test grain and when to contact your crop insurance team can be important.
At AgQuest Crop Insurance, we want producers to have the information they need to navigate those situations and understand what their coverage requires.
Grain Quality Concerns Can Require Quick Action
If you notice grain quality concerns during harvest, don’t wait until the grain is already in storage to start asking questions.
Depending on the situation, crop insurance may provide for a quality adjustment when production has qualifying quality deficiencies caused by an insured cause of loss. Proper documentation and testing can be an important part of determining whether a loss may qualify.
A few steps can help you stay organized:
- Document the condition of the grain. Keep elevator settlement sheets, grading reports and other documentation related to grain quality.
- Have questionable farm-stored grain tested. If grain is showing signs of quality issues, representative samples may need to be obtained and tested.
- Address possible mycotoxins before storage. If you suspect mycotoxins, contact your crop insurance team before the grain enters storage. Applicable sampling requirements may need to be completed before storage for the loss to be considered.
- Contact AgQuest early. If you see mold, sprouting, discoloration, kernel damage or suspect a mycotoxin issue, reach out to your AgQuest Crop Insurance team as soon as possible.
The specific requirements can vary based on the crop, policy and type of quality concern, which is why contacting your crop insurance team early is important.
Don’t Overlook Grain Storage
What happens after harvest matters, too.
Proper grain conditioning and storage management are important when protecting the value of your crop. Deterioration that occurs in storage is generally not considered a covered cause of loss under crop insurance.
That makes it important to distinguish between a quality issue that occurred as a result of an insured cause of loss and deterioration that develops after the grain has been placed in storage.
If you are concerned about grain quality, don’t assume the answer is the same for every situation. Your AgQuest Crop Insurance team can help you understand what information and documentation may be needed based on your specific circumstances.
Keep Your Documentation Together
Harvest generates a lot of paperwork, and grain quality concerns can make those records even more important.
Keep copies of:
- Elevator settlement sheets
- Grain grading reports
- Quality test results
- Sampling documentation
- Records related to the affected production
- Other information provided by the elevator or testing facility
Having this information available can help when documenting a potential loss and working through the claim process.
Production losses should also be reported promptly, and applicable crop insurance deadlines for quality samples and claim documentation need to be followed.
Contact AgQuest Early
When grain quality concerns arise, you don’t have to figure out the next steps on your own.
Contacting the AgQuest Crop Insurance Team early gives us an opportunity to help you understand the applicable sampling, documentation and claim handling requirements before you move forward.
If you’re seeing mold, sprouting, discoloration, kernel damage or other grain quality concerns during harvest, give your AgQuest Crop Insurance team a call before putting the grain into storage whenever possible.
A quick conversation early can help you take the appropriate steps to document the situation and understand how your crop insurance coverage may apply.
We’re here to help you navigate the questions that come with harvest and make sure you understand your coverage.
AgQuest Insurance is an Equal Opportunity Provider.