There is nothing more frustrating than getting rejected at the elevator due to high vomitoxin (aka DON) levels. DON is produced by fungi produced on the ear and is usually infected at the time of pollination. To give farmers a better perspective of what happens behind the scenes at a grain elevator, we interview 3-grain merchandisers on their process when DON test levels start creeping up. Jason Beckman (Poet (https://poet.com/grain) ), Lisa Mitchell (Gerald Grain (https://www.geraldgrain.com/) ), and Seth Miller (The Anderson (https://www.andersonsinc.com/) ) take us behind the scenes of their operations to look at testing, grain flow and market impacts. We end with some quick reminders about DON management and to check the C.O.R.N. Newsletter (https://agcrops.osu.edu/newsletter/co…) for updates and research on corn fungicide and disease.
Vomitoxin
Livestock and Grain Producers: Dealing with Vomitoxin and Zearalenone
Vomitoxin in the 2020 corn crop continues to plague both livestock and grain producers. Livestock producers are trying to decide how best to manage corn and corn by-products with high levels of vomitoxin, and those who grow corn are trying to decide how best to avoid vomitoxin contamination in 2021.
In the 15 minute video below, OSU Extension Educations John Barker, Rob Leeds, and Jacci Smith discuss where and why this year’s vomitoxin issues originated, considerations for avoiding problems in coming years, how it impacts livestock, and what’s involved in testing grain for vomitoxin.