SDSU warns farmers about toxic mold in corn crop

[Guest guest]

SDSU warns farmers about toxic mold in corn crop

Ross Dolan

The Daily Republic - 10/27/2007

www.mitchellrepublic.com

Stressful summer drought conditions and high moisture levels near

harvest time have produced favorable conditions for the production of

mycotoxins in corn, says a South Dakota State University plant

pathologist.

Aflatoxin, a dangerous toxic mold produced by the aspergillus fungus,

has been found in corn crops in parts of northwest Iowa, northeast

Nebraska and extreme southeast parts of South Dakota, according to

Brad Ruden, interim lab manager at SDSU's plant diagnostic clinic.

An SDSU press release urging farmers to harvest as early as possible

and dry crops to 12-14 percent moisture levels to avoid molds

recently was sent statewide. The idea behind the release was to make

producers aware, said Ruden, not to cause alarm.

" Generally speaking, toxic mold levels are very low and we're not

seeing a significant problem with them now, " he said. " We don't want

people worried about their corn flakes. Mold on corn doesn't

necessarily mean a toxin is being produced. "

However, that doesn't mean mycotoxins are not present. Ruden said

farmers who suspect aflatoxin must have their grain lab tested.

Aflatoxin or any mycotoxin is not apparent with a visual inspection,

he said.

Reuters News Service has reported aflatoxin in corn from Plymouth

County, Iowa, which adjoins Union County, S.D., and which also has

had aflatoxin reports.

Local elevators typically sample for moisture levels and also can

check grain if aflatoxin is suspected.

Jon Proehl, manager at the north Tripp office of the Dakota Plains Ag

Center, said a black light inspection is used to check for mold. The

mold fluoresces, or glows, under the black light. Suspect corn is

then sent to Aberdeen for testing.

" If we suspect something, we can segregate it, " Proehl said.

Proehl said that acceptably low levels of aflatoxin — below five

parts per billion — are not uncommon in local corn, but he recently

heard of elevators in the southeast that have rejected corn for

considerably higher levels.

" I don't sense that we'll have that problem locally or that we'll

have any really ugly areas — at least for the moment, " he said.

" Really ugly " said Proehl is 300 to 500 parts per billion. He

recalled those levels being reported earlier in the decade elsewhere

in the state. Corn recently was rejected in Iowa for having more than

20 parts per billion of aflatoxin. According to news reports, levels

as high as 600 parts per billion have been reported in Plymouth

County, Iowa.

If toxin levels are so high that the corn cannot be sold, the

crop " becomes an insurable issue, " said Ruden.

If a producer suspects aflatoxin contamination, he must contact his

crop insurance agent before finishing the harvest, Ruden said.

" Once the crop is in the bin, it's too late, " he said. Rules vary

depending on the insurer.

Depending on toxin levels, some contaminated corn can be used for

animal feed, he said, but " it's not legal for elevators to sell off

a `hot' load of corn. "

There are very tight regulations for the grain to be used for human

consumption, he said.

By law, elevators can't resell contaminated corn or blend it off to

make it marketable, said Ruden, but growers don't have those

limitations. One method is to dilute the contaminated corn with good

corn to make it saleable for feed. But feed that's too high in the

toxins can kill young animals or cause reproduction problems.

[Guest guest]

OMG, If its to contaminated to sell they don't have to throw it out! water it

down and feed it to the animals were gonna eat. I wish they would label all

meat as to where it comes from.

This is crazy! No wonder I'm not allowed to eat any packaged goods.

charlesb35 <charlesb35@...> wrote:

SDSU warns farmers about toxic mold in corn crop

Ross Dolan

The Daily Republic - 10/27/2007

www.mitchellrepublic.com

Stressful summer drought conditions and high moisture levels near

harvest time have produced favorable conditions for the production of

mycotoxins in corn, says a South Dakota State University plant

pathologist.

Aflatoxin, a dangerous toxic mold produced by the aspergillus fungus,

has been found in corn crops in parts of northwest Iowa, northeast

Nebraska and extreme southeast parts of South Dakota, according to

Brad Ruden, interim lab manager