The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) is offering a free testing program to drought impacted Maryland farmers for nitrate and prussic acid in forage and for aflatoxin in corn grain. Prussic acid poisoning is mostly associated with sorghum and related species.
The program is a cooperative effort between MDA and Maryland Cooperative Extension (MCE). Testing is done by the MDA State Chemist’s Section. The contacts in the State Chemist Section are Donald Lewis and Ken McManus. They can be reached at (800) 494-5590 x2721 or (410) 841-2721.
Farmers can bring their samples to their nearest MCE office so that MCE can assist them with paperwork and make sure the samples and paperwork are properly prepared. MDA will pick up the samples daily (Monday through Friday) and fax results to farmers usually within 24 hours.
Read MDA news release
Causes and Prevention: Prussic Acid Poisoning of Livestock
Causes and Prevention: Nitrate Poisoning of Livestock
Harvesting and Feeding Drought Stressed Corn (PDF)
