Late corn harvest brings insurance, aflatoxin problems

By Gary Hachfeld, University of Minnesota Extension

Late corn harvest due to wet weather could mean problems with crop insurance claims and aflatoxin damage.

Farmers need to contact their insurance provider if corn is left in the field beyond the Dec. 10 deadline for insurance claims. Then the agent can submit or open a claim on behalf of the farmer for use after the insurance period. Farmers can’t just give up on the crop because the insurance period has expired and expect to receive an indemnity payment for a full loss.

If there is any corn in the field and it can’t be harvested, the insurance adjuster will follow the crop through the winter. They may deem it unharvestable at some point, but that’s up to the judgment of the insurance company.

Aflatoxin damage can occur if there’s ear damage due to drought stress as well as rainfall at the end of the growing season that postpones harvest and prevents dry-down. In addition, corn in storage can be contaminated with aflatoxin when corn moisture is above 13 percent and temperatures are warm. Aflatoxin causes potential health risks for humans as well as livestock.

If aflatoxin or mold is present, an insurance appraisal and adjustment must be done before the crop is harvested. If not, there can be no adjustment made and thus no indemnity payment. So be sure to contact your insurance agent before you harvest if you suspect this damage.

Each farmer’s situation is different, so be sure to check with your crop insurance provider. For more information, visit the University of Minnesota Center for Farm Financial Management website, www.cffm.umn.edu. Click on “publications,” and “farm management topics.”

(Gary Hachfeld is an agricultural business management educator with University of Minnesota Extension.)