E. E. Cummings Crop Testing Laboratory

The E. E. Cummings Crop Testing Laboratory opened in 2011 as the NWCS Quality Testing Laboratory thanks to funding from the Castanea Foundation and the support from generous private donations. We perform quality analysis on commercial cereal grains, hops, and malting barley samples received from farmers and researchers across the region.

In April 2021, we have renamed the lab to E. E. Cummings Crop Testing Laboratory at the University of Vermont in dedication to our former employee and friend, Erica E. Cummings, who helped establish the lab in 2011.

The name change is official, and we are planning a lab dedication ceremony at our Fall Field Day on October 22, 2021, 1pm to 4pm, at the Borderview Research Farm.

View the Fall Field Day Flyer here (PDF). Come learn about the latest research in small grains, cover crops, soil health, and forages. We will be touring research trials evaluating perennial grass varieties, fall forages, stockpiled forages, and a variety of cover crop trials. Roy Desrochers, UVM Sensory Expert, will also provide a fun and educational session tasting and describing local grains!

In addition to the lab dedication, we will also be celebrating the lives of our friends Erica Cummings, Ken Van Hazinga, and Jack Lazor. Join us to remember and celebrate their love of agriculture and our small farming community.

Field Day Registration is Free but we do ask you to please pre-register at https://2021fallfieldday.eventbrite.com by October 20, 2021. Maximum number of 80 registrants allowed. Rain or shine, please dress appropriately and bring your own water.

In honor of Erica, we have also created a web page called In Honor of Erica E. Cummings.

COVID-19 update related to the E. E. Cummings Crop Testing Laboratory - the Testing Lab has remained open. We will continue with our normal tournaround time and we are following the University of Vermont procedures regarding COVID-19.

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NOTE: The cost per sample for the Cereal Grains and Malting Barley samples will be increasing slightly effective July 1, 2021 due to increases in our supply cost.

The lab is equipped with near-infrared technology for protein analysis and employs a method to test for deoxynivalenol (DON) also known as vomitoxin. Occurrences of this vomitoxin in wheat at or above 1 ppm are considered unsafe for human consumption by the FDA. Contamination of wheat with DON is directly related to the incidence of Fusarium head blight and strongly associated with relative moisture and timing of rainfall at flowering.

Our lab also houses a sophisticated machine to test the Falling Number of wheat, an internationally standardized method for sprout damage detection. The Falling Number System measures the alpha-amylase enzyme activity in grains and flour to detect sprout damage, optimize flour enzyme activity and guarantee soundness of traded grain. Alpha-amylase activity is crucial for final product quality of bread, pasta, noodles and malt.

Understanding Falling Number in Cereal Crops fact sheet (PDF)

Remember the results are only as good as the sample submitted!

If you have samples you would like analyzed, please send 1) payment and 2) a completed submission form — these must accompany all requests sent in. In order to get results that accurately reflect your product, be sure to employ good sampling techniques.

Grains Testing

We test for test weight, moisture, protein, falling number, and DON in grains. We also conduct analyses for corn (% Moisture, % Crude Protein, % Crude Fiber, and % Starch). New for 2020, we are testing for Aflatoxin (ppb).

To expedite analysis of your sample(s), please provide a completed submission form(s) and payment with your sample(s). Also please make sure you provide 1 quart of clean (no stones and dirt) and dry (<14% moisture) whole grain for each sample submitted. Cereal Submission Form (PDF).

Hops Quality Analysis

Hops Quality analysis is available. We can test for Brewing Values (BV’s) which determines Alpha acids, Beta acids and Hops Storage Index (HSI). Please see our What’s Hoppening blog post for tips on submitting hop samples for quality analysis. Hop Analysis Submission form (PDF).

Barley

Malting Barley analysis is now available. We can test for test weight, grain moisture, dry matter protein, falling number, germination, plumpness and DON. Please make sure you provide 1 quart of clean (no stones and dirt) and dry (<14% moisture) whole grain for each sample submitted. Malting Barley Submission form (PDF).

Northwest Crops and Soils Program

UVM Extension Cultivating Healthy Communities