The Dairy One Forage Lab excels in providing high quality analyses
and customer service. Our goal is to provide analytical services designed to meet the expanding demands of modern agriculture.
New technology and traditional methods are combined to deliver fast, accurate results.
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By Sarah E. Fessenden, PAS; Business Development Manager
Dairy One is very excited to announce that the Forage Laboratory now offers PCR testing! Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is an efficient DNA-based technology that has many applications, among which are the ability to fingerprint DNA, identify bacteria and viruses, and diagnose genetic disorders. Sometimes called "molecular photocopying," PCR is a fast and inexpensive technique used to "amplify" or copy small segments of DNA. With this advanced testing, we are now accepting alfalfa hay samples to test for the presence of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and the fungi that cause Verticillium Wilt.
We have partnered with Chestnut Labs, a division of Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) to offer the following PCR services. All testing will be performed at our 720 Warren Road facility in Ithaca, NY.
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Service Code
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Service
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Price*
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| 141 |
Non-GMO |
$50 |
| 142 |
Verticillium Wilt |
$50 |
| 143 |
Non-GMO and Verticillium Wilt |
$50 |
Table 1. New Services
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prices are in USD and for domestic samples only
The GMO testing is performed using the National Standards of the People's Republic of China Announcement No. 2122 of the Ministry of Agriculture-7-2014. The Verticillium Wilt testing is performed using 2005 PCR Method from Zhang et al.
Samples should be representative of the appropriate load or lot of hay. Hay loads or lots should be identified as a single cutting or a single field and variety. Combinations of different loads or lots of hay cannot be represented adequately and should always be sampled separately. Do not combine cuttings, fields, or hay types. If sampling a shipping container of hay, the number of bales sampled should represent all the cuttings, fields, or hay types that may be present in the shipment and then packaged as individual samples for analysis. Larger samples should be collected on site and then broken down into subsamples that are subsequently sent to the lab.
When taking a sample, if mechanical sampling equipment is used, it should be able to adjust the sample size and sampling frequency within a wide range and also be conducive to inspection and cleaning. All cargos should have the same opportunity to enter the sampling device of a mechanical sampler.
When sampling manually, one should sample at a predetermined sampling interval. Extracting samples from new sections that are exposed during loading and unloading or stopped conveyor belts facilitate the process. When sampling from a stopped conveyor belt, one should extract samples from bales across the entire bandwidth of the conveyor, not just a portion.
When sending a sample to the lab for both PCR testing and the standard nutrient analysis, please submit two individually bagged samples. This is necessary to minimize the risk of cross-contamination from DNA from other sources. Upon reception, we will forward one sample directly to Chestnut Labs for the PCR testing and then retain one sample to perform the requested nutrient package or services. Upon completion of testing, the final analysis report you receive will be comprised of two parts. The first will contain our standard nutrient composition report. The second report will be a Certificate of Analysis (CoA) from Chestnut Labs that details the results of the selected PCR testing. Contact us today to order a sample kit!
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Brenda is the Senior Technician of Special Services. In her role, she is in charge of 11 different analyses; crude fat by acid hydrolysis, crude fat by ether extract, urea, ash, water soluble carbohydrates (WSC), ethanol soluble carbohydrates (ESC), starch, acid insoluble ash (AIA), pH, volatile fatty acids (VFA), and total fatty acids (TFA). Brenda is a time management expert and organizes and optimizes the daily work flow in Special Services to ensure your samples are completed in a timely manner.
Brenda has been with us for 35 years, longer than any of the other Forage Lab employees, including Mike! When she started in 1983 in our Sign-In Department, she alone performed all the duties of sample receiving including reviewing paperwork, weighing out of samples, drying and grinding, and even tackled the manure analysis. Prior to Dairy One, she worked at the Bakery Department at Tops. Brenda occasionally bakes special treats for the rest of the lab, which we all greatly appreciate!
"Working at Dairy One is very challenging. You are always learning new things and the people are very friendly. It's a great place to work."
Brenda lives in Candor, NY, where she grew up and attended high school. She has been married to her husband, Greg, for 41 years. Brenda has two daughters, Danielle and Melissa, and a granddaughter, Olivia. Outside of work she enjoys exercising, hiking, spending time with her granddaughter, husband, and larger family. She also enjoys knitting, camping, kayaking, and cooking.
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Upcoming Events - Come see us!
May 2-3
California Animal Nutrition Conference
Fresno, CA
May 26-27
Champlain Valley Morgan Horse Association Show
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Dairy One - Forage Laboratory
730 Warren Road ~ Ithaca, NY ~ 14850
Phone: 1-800-344-2697 Ext. 9962
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