Toxin in U.S. corn harvest poses latest headache for farmers

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

ENVIRONMENT NOVEMBER 5, 2018 / 6:38 PM / UPDATED AN HOUR AGO

Toxin in U.S. corn harvest poses latest headache for farmers

Tom Polansek, Michael Hirtzer
4 MIN READ

CHICAGO (Reuters) - North American farmers are finding increased levels of a plant toxin known as vomitoxin in this year’s corn harvest, adding insult to injury for growers already suffering as the U.S.-China trade war hurts soybean exports and crop prices.

Vomitoxin sickens livestock and can also make humans and pets fall ill, and grain buyers can reject cargoes or fine farmers for shipments that contain it.

More cases than normal are likely in the corn crop because wet weather this autumn caused the fungus to develop while delaying harvests, Iowa State University grain quality expert Charles Hurburgh said on Monday.

About three-fourths of U.S. corn is used domestically to feed livestock and make ethanol and a byproduct called distillers’ dried grains that is fed to animals. However, livestock and ethanol producers need to blend corn that contains vomitoxin with corn that does not to make it suitable for feed when toxin levels are high.

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Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-corn/toxin-in-u-s-corn-harvest-poses-latest-headache-for-farmers-idUSKCN1NA2PJ

[Wellstone ruled]

1. This is a biggee,

The late rains volatile temps in the Corn Belt has did it's damage. And with the collapse of the Corn price. Said this before,watch for a ton of Auctions starting in April. Not looking the greatest. Surprised this story did not hit until now. Crop monitors were seeing this in early August.