Mycotoxins in corn--expanded website

September 23, 2007

NCGA Adds Mycotoxin Resources to www.ncga.com

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 21, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- In a major expansion of

its Web site, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) has added

a section devoted to mycotoxin management in corn.

" We hope to spread knowledge about the danger mycotoxins can pose,

and the advances in dealing with it, " said Averhoff, chairman

of the NCGA Mycotoxin Task Force. " Research has been going on for

more than 20 years, but a lot of growers only have to deal with

mycotoxins on a sporadic basis. They need a resource to provide facts

and information. "

Mycotoxins are produced by several families of fungus. The two

primary mycotoxins affecting corn are aflatoxin and fumonisin.

Part of the increased attention to mycotoxins has resulted from the

increased popularity of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS),

noted Averhoff. Mycotoxins can be concentrated in DDGS during ethanol

production. As production and demand for DDGS grows, Averhoff says,

corn growers need a better understanding of mycotoxins as well as

local resources for information.

" The potential could arise where corn that is safe for feeding is

processed into ethanol, but the resulting DDGS could come out above

FDA feeding action levels, " Averhoff explained.

The new section provides information on recommended management

practices, FDA guidelines for acceptable mycotoxin levels for feed,

and links to more information on mycotoxin research. It can be found

under the Production & Stewardship Key Issues area on the NCGA Web

The National Corn Growers Association's mission is to create and

increase opportunities for corn growers. NCGA represents more than

32,000 members and 47 affiliated state organizations and hundreds of

thousands of growers who contribute to state checkoff programs. For

more information on NCGA, log on to www.ncga.com.

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