Melamine in Cookies

News out of the Twin Cities in Minnesota: The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is expanding its warning about cookies containing melamine. Wonderfarm brand cookies sold in Minnesota, "Royal Flavour Bisuits,", "Lovely Melody Biscuits". and "Daily Life Biscuits" have tested positive. The melamine crisis may be spreading more and more into the United States. Midwest Laboratories performs melamine testing in milk and other food products. Check out their melamaine testing site.

Soil Testing - Best Value

Soil Testing is the best value. As this article states fertilizer costs can be up to 25% of a crop return. Somewhere, costs have to be controlled. With a good thorough soil test, these values can be found and savings on P (Phosphorus) & K (Potassium) can occur. Midwest Laboratories offers a basic package and many people take advantage not only of their price, but their 3-day turnaround.

Source: Identifying the Source of a Soil Test - http://www.jg-tc.com/articles/2008/11/05/features/farm/doc491120ffade48471789677.txt

S1A (Basic): Organic Matter, Available Phosphorus (P1 Weak Bray and P2 Strong Bray) Exchangeable Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium and Hydrogen, Soil pH, Buffer Index, Cation Exchange Capacity, Percent Base Saturation of Cation Elements
With Recommendations: $10.00
Without Recommendations: $8.80

Source: Midwest Laboratories Website http://www.midwestlabs.com

Melamine in Milk

Melamine is in the news again. Some samples of milk are making it to the United States. Tougher standards need to be in place. The issue is getting a lot of attention in China. Midwest Laboratories provides melamine testing to its clients. If you have questions regarding melamine and its analysis, contact a representative at their company, 402-334-7770.

soil testing

Soil Testing season is just around the corner with fields being harvested. Soil Testing is the best investment, dollar for dollar. Midwest Laboratories offers a great soil testing program. You have the opportunite to get free soil bags at their eStore. Also, by opening up an account, growers are entitled to purchase other supplies like boxes, shipping labels, soil bags, (free) and prboes. In addition, growers can save on soil mapping programs offered through Agri-Data. The Midwest Labs Sitealso has a Library Section for instructions in sampling and interpreting soil reports. Soil Testing turnaround is three to four days. Check out more information online at http://www.midwestlabs.com/

Heavy Metals in Food Testing

Heavy Metals like mercury, lead and cadmium are present in food and sometimes at unacceptable levels. Contaminants in food can be detected. One such laboratory that conducts this type of testing is Midwest Laboratories. If you have questions, contact Barry Blessing is the contact at Midwest Labs - 402-334-7770. This company also tests heavy metals in toys using the XRF Technology.

Shelf Life Testing

Over the past few months, I have heard about shelf life testing of sandwiches in vending machines, milk and carbonated beverages. Now some other items are beingshelf life tested like packaging and lead and nickel. Midwest Laboratories does provide this type of testing. Take a look at their website http://shelflifetesting.com/ . If you don't see your product listed, give Erin Smith a call. 402-334-7770.

Manure Testing -Saving Money on Fertilizer Costs

Many farmers are turning to manure as a fertilizer source. The keys to making manure work are in the following:

• Having the manure tested at a private laboratory for nutrient value.


• Properly calibrating application equipment


• Coordinating the applications with soil test results and predictions of crop-available nitrogen Source: http://www.foodandsocietyfellows.org/publications.cfm?refID=103024

Making use of results from Manure Testing/Soil Testing can help save money with respect to Fertilizer Costs.

Soil Testing

Here is some informaiton which can affect results obtained from soil testing.

"Factors Effecting Irregularities in Soil Analysis"

1. Varied depth of sampling (Sample at tillage depth).
2. Combining unlike soil areas into one composite sample.
3. Combining soil areas with different past liming, fertilizer, or cropping histories into one composite sample.
4. Combining an insufficient number of sub-samples into composite from extremely varied or land-leveled fields.
5. Attempting to use singgle composite sample for too large an acre.
6. Varying amounts of organic matter or undercomposed organic matter in sample.
7. Soft rocks in sample.
8. Forded drying of soil sample at high heat.
9. Soils that have been sampled, dried, or processed in contaminated containers.
10. Improper packaging of samples, allowing contaminants to become part of sample.
11. Mixing sample identity.
12. Improper sampling equipment (Do not use galvanized or cadmium based equipment. Do not lubricate with other than food oil).
13. Poor distribution of manure applications.

Check out more Midwest Laboratory Memos at http://www.midwestlabs.com/

Also check out current information about soil testing at their store site, http://midwestlabtest.com/

Water Testing

Midwest Laboratories offers a wide variety of water testing packages. You can order the supplies online, the kits are shipped to you. You collect the water sample and send it back to the lab for testing. The whole process takes about 7-10 days. Check it out on their catalog site.

Lawn & Garden Test

Check out this Lawn and Garden Test at Midwest Laboratories eStore. Just posted today! For $30.00, you get supplies sent to your address with a return shipping label. Your soil is shipped to a laboratory and you receive results in less than 5 days.

Diesel Testing

Diesel Testing is pretty prominent in light of the switch from Low Sulfur Diesel to Ultra-Low Sufur Diesel. 500ppm to 15ppm for limits. Serveral laboratories offer this type of testing. One in particular provides supplies/kits with their analysis.
Midwest Laboratories http://www.midwestlabs.com

In addition, microbial growth is another diesel test which is very poular too. Same site has information on this test. Check around and let me know if $47.50 is a good price.

ASTM Critical Testing Package

Check out the following link. I attended the National Biodiesel Conference and visited with several members of the European Biodiesel Testing Standards Board. The Europeans plan on moving the current requirement of 6 hours for oxidation stability to 8 hours for oxidation stability. Midwest Laboratories is offering this test and some others including: flash point, total and free glycerin, acid number and oxidation stability for a packaged price of $250.00. Very good value for some of the hardest tests to pass in ASTM 6751. Check it out..

http://www.midwestlabtest.com/fuels-testing/biodiesel-testing.html

National Biodiesel Conference

I am currently attending the National Biodiesel Conference in Orlando http://www.biodieselconference.org/2008/ and came up with the following top 10 list for evaluating laboratories.

Top 10 Items to ask for when evaluating a laboratory for biodiesel testing.

1) Does the Laboratory use approved ASTM Testing Methods for (B100) Biodiesel. ASTM D 6751 is the approved method which is in compliance with National Biodiesel Board Standards and BQ-9000. Can the laboratory produce a BQF-1 Form?
2) How long has the laboratory been in the analytical testing business, specifically biodiesel testing?
3) Does the laboratory participate in the ASTM D 6751 Check Sample Testing Program. This is a program which laboratories enroll with ASTM to insure that current laboratory results are reported in an acceptable manner. These results are reported with respect to all laboratory participants.
4) Price – What type of price structure is in place for ASTM D 6751 Testing? Are prices priced on a specific test basis. ASTM D 6751 includes 17-18 individual tests. Find out what the price is.
5) Does the laboratory offer supplies for sample submission? If so, what is the price of supplies and how does shipping work?
6) How is the analysis reported? Can the laboratory produce a Certificate of Analysis?
7) What is the turnaround time for conducting the analysis? Is there a fee for rush service?
8) Can this laboratory perform the Cold Soak Filtration Test? This test is required in the states of Colorado and Minnesota.
9) Does the laboratory offer other tests related to biodiesel? Iodine, Glycerine, Fatty Acid Profile for Feed Stocks, or other Cold Tests.
10) What type of account benefits does the laboratory provide its customers?

E85 Testing Ethanol

I found a site which conducts E85 Testing. http://astm4806.com This company can also provide clients with testing kits. The company is Midwest Laboratories. Midwest Laboratories has packages available.

Biodiesel Testing

ASTM D6751 - Biodiesel (B100) - There are several biodiesel testing sites on the internet. With the cold weahter in the midwest, I found a site which listed the Cold Soak Filtration Test in addition to the standard BQ-9000 Testing. http://biodieseltesting.net/ Check out this site it mentions Midwest Laboratories.

In addition, this site http://www.astm6751.com/ gives updates to the regulations. For specifications regarding ASTM D6751 look at this link and print this sheet out. http://www.biodiesel.org/pdf_files/fuelfactsheets/BDSpec.PDF

Pet Treat Testing

Consumers looking for pet treat testing packages can go to this site, http://petfoodtestinglab.com/ to find out more information about two types of testing packages:
Basic Pet Treat Package $30
Extended Pet Treat Package $75

These packages can offer producers information regarding their products and can help answer questions regarding nutritional value.