NCGA adds mycotoxin resources to website

The new mycotoxin section  provides information on
recommended management practices, FDA guidelines for acceptable mycotoxin levels
for feed, and links to more information on mycotoxin research.

“We hope
to spread knowledge about the danger mycotoxins can pose, and the advances in
dealing with it,” said Scott 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.

Concentrated in DDGS
Part of the
increased attention to mycotoxins has resulted from the increased popularity of
distillers dried grains with solubles, 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.