ZON Test

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Ask NABIM why they want it. They’re the ones responsible from what I can make out so it will affect all non feed wheat.

Test cost est around £45. Will be required from end of this month I think.

 

[sirclip]

We are currently sending wheat into a local pet food manufacturer. Every load is being individually DON tested, the lorry is being sent off site for an hour, and then called back in to tip. It's easier to get wheat into a flour mill than for dog food!
They are paying a premium for the wheat, but we are not paying for DON tests as it was sold as field wheat.

 

[foul mouth phil]

that's the risk assessment, not the DON test.

No that's my DON which has been done by my Grain Buyer.

 

[Brisel]

We are currently sending wheat into a local pet food manufacturer. Every load is being individually DON tested, the lorry is being sent off site for an hour, and then called back in to tip. It's easier to get wheat into a flour mill than for dog food!
They are paying a premium for the wheat, but we are not paying for DON tests as it was sold as field wheat.

Which mill is that? Crown Pet Foods at Castle Cary tried rejecting a load of my FEED BARLEY for mycotoxins. I pointed out to them that the grain contract I had with them had no provision for mycotoxins and that they had signed that contract too. I didn't get any more troubles with that one but avoid them like the plague now. Just too much hassle for a pound/t more.

 

[PSQ]

Farmers would perhaps be more amenable to more stringent requirements from end users, if they gave us something back in return.
Like full reporting of measured quality results from EVERY load, not just the results they choose to penalise us on. And if they expect us to bend over backwards by measuring ZON, DON and whatever they dream up next, they can start to pay us on AVERAGE QUALITY measured over the full volume of a contract, e.g. one load of milling wheat at 12.8 protein would be cancelled out by two at 13.1%, same for specific weight, moisture etc. So easy to do with computerised records, but all we ever hear is 'it's too complex'. But not too complex to process punitive claims on the last load of every contract...

My family were grain merchants for generations, and I was always told the money was made in the blending at the intake. Farmers are missing a trick by accepting 19th Century purchasing terms, it really is about time we demanded better contracts that work in a fairer way for both parties, and not accept ever increasing standards that only benefit the merchant and end user.

@Guy Smith is this something that the NFU could carry forward ?

 

[Woldgrain Storage]

Really? Why?

Where growers are unsure of the difference between a RA score and a DON result, adding another box of numbers to the passport may cause delays at mills if the end user decides that the passport is not filled in correctly.

 

[Grain Buyer]

Farmers would perhaps be more amenable to more stringent requirements from end users, if they gave us something back in return.
Like full reporting of measured quality results from EVERY load, not just the results they choose to penalise us on. And if they expect us to bend over backwards by measuring ZON, DON and whatever they dream up next, they can start to pay us on AVERAGE QUALITY measured over the full volume of a contract, e.g. one load of milling wheat at 12.8 protein would be cancelled out by two at 13.1%, same for specific weight, moisture etc. So easy to do with computerised records, but all we ever hear is 'it's too complex'. But not too complex to process punitive claims on the last load of every contract...

My family were grain merchants for generations, and I was always told the money was made in the blending at the intake. Farmers are missing a trick by accepting 19th Century purchasing terms, it really is about time we demanded better contracts that work in a fairer way for both parties, and not accept ever increasing standards that only benefit the merchant and end user.

@Guy Smith is this something that the NFU could carry forward ?

mills are buying like this now.....

 

[Jim Bullock]

Post Brexit if we are flooded with cheap imported grains ( If Liam Fox and Boris J get their "Trade Agreements " in place) I hope it will all be certified and tested for DON and ZON....!

 

[PSQ]

mills are buying like this now.....

Some mills or all mills?

Just gp1, or gp2 and biscuit as well?

 

[cb387]

Sold 2 loads of biscuit wheat to Frontier for November movement. Got a letter today saying ZON test was required for it, and they will do it for £45. Tempted to tell them to do themselves it if they want it, but think they might mysteriously find something wrong with load when it gets to the other end if I do

 

[marcot]

Sold 2 loads of biscuit wheat to Frontier for November movement. Got a letter today saying ZON test was required for it, and they will do it for £45. Tempted to tell them to do themselves it if they want it, but think they might mysteriously find something wrong with load when it gets to the other end if I do

Maybe it's time to draw a line in the sand and for us all to tell them what to do with their £45 and their ZON .....if they want a ZON test result then they can pay for it....
It seems we have to bear the cost for every effin thing

 

[Guy Smith]

Farmers would perhaps be more amenable to more stringent requirements from end users, if they gave us something back in return.
Like full reporting of measured quality results from EVERY load, not just the results they choose to penalise us on. And if they expect us to bend over backwards by measuring ZON, DON and whatever they dream up next, they can start to pay us on AVERAGE QUALITY measured over the full volume of a contract, e.g. one load of milling wheat at 12.8 protein would be cancelled out by two at 13.1%, same for specific weight, moisture etc. So easy to do with computerised records, but all we ever hear is 'it's too complex'. But not too complex to process punitive claims on the last load of every contract...

My family were grain merchants for generations, and I was always told the money was made in the blending at the intake. Farmers are missing a trick by accepting 19th Century purchasing terms, it really is about time we demanded better contracts that work in a fairer way for both parties, and not accept ever increasing standards that only benefit the merchant and end user.

@Guy Smith is this something that the NFU could carry forward ?

Tend to agree.

To often us farmers agree to operate under contract terms without looking at the detail or attempting to negotiate better terms.

We do offer a contract checking service

https://www.nfuonline.com/membership/your-nfu-member-services/nfu-contract-checking-service/

But it may not suit situations such as grain trading.

We also want to see things like the Dairy code given more teeth.

Some merchants are offering intake spec transparency. If enough of us insisted on it then it would happen.

Having said all that it seems a pretty good year for wheat proteins this year so it's not much of an issue this year for me.

 

[Grain Buyer]

Some mills or all mills?

Just gp1, or gp2 and biscuit as well?

yes.

 

[Grain Buyer]

Sold 2 loads of biscuit wheat to Frontier for November movement. Got a letter today saying ZON test was required for it, and they will do it for £45. Tempted to tell them to do themselves it if they want it, but think they might mysteriously find something wrong with load when it gets to the other end if I do

its not Frontiers fault!

If you have an issue with it, tell them to reduce the price by the premium, call it feed, and send it for chickens.

Sell me grain (min 145t) and I'll do FREE don and zon tests (actually I'll just hide it in the price you get for your grain and tell you it's free).

 

[Neddy flanders]

What's an acceptable ZON figure that passes in all mills?

 

[Grain Buyer]

unprocessed cereals for HC = 100pbb or less.

 

[cb387]

its not Frontiers fault!

If you have an issue with it, tell them to reduce the price by the premium, call it feed, and send it for chickens.

Sell me grain (min 145t) and I'll do FREE don and zon tests (actually I'll just hide it in the price you get for your grain and tell you it's free).

Tonnage is irellivent. You make a contract on one basis. The other side wishes to change the terms but expects you to pay the difference. No wonder people are sceptical of merchants

 

[Grain Buyer]

Due to a relevant concern over zon levels in grain, the end users are asking for tests to be done to protect the consumer. the merchant hasn't changed the rules.

At the end of the day, is it the fact you need another test, or is it the £45. If it's the former, and you are found to have high Zon, then the procedure has done what it set out to do, if it's the latter...........

 

[priding576]

 

[PSQ]

Due to a relevant concern over zon levels in grain, the end users are asking for tests to be done to protect the consumer. the merchant hasn't changed the rules.

At the end of the day, is it the fact you need another test, or is it the £45. If it's the former, and you are found to have high Zon, then the procedure has done what it set out to do, if it's the latter...........

I understand the millers concerns with traceability. But why are farmers being asked to finance the end users quality control?

It's only another £45, I get your point. Similar to the DON test. But we are already paying the processors weigh bridge charges (as they refuse to trust my 'weights and measures' annually tested weigh bridge) which is 'only' another £7.50 a load. A cynic would say that all those £7.50's also pays for the lab staff and testing. Why don't you just charge us up front for your milling costs too, and tell us we should be glad we're not paying for the flour sacks?

Or we could just sell it for a few quid less for chicken feed, safe in the knowledge that after claims and the occasional rejection:
because the mills broken down (again),
it's 3.05 pm on a friday,
you've bought some elsewhere cheaper than the contract price,

- we'd still be better off