BIOMIN Mycotoxin Survey in US Corn: March 2020 Update
The March update from the annual BIOMIN® PROcheck mycotoxin survey in corn harvested in 2019 includes over 360 samples from 24 states.
06.03.2020US Corn Survey Results
Each sample was tested for 6 major mycotoxin groups of:
Aflatoxins (Afla): B1, B2, G1, and G2
B-Trichothecenes (B-Trich): Deoxynivalenol (DON/Vomitoxin), Acetyl-deoxynivalenol, Nivalenol, Fusarenon X
A-Trichothecenes (A-Trich): T-2, HT-2, Neosolaniol, Diacetoxyscirpenol
Fumonisins (FUM): B1, B2, B3
Zearalenone (ZEN)
Ocharatoxin A (OTA)
Summary
The survey results represent samples sent in for surveillance testing only and does not include any sample submitted following clinical signs. Below we discuss preliminary trends of each of these feed ingredients regarding mycotoxin prevalence and contamination levels.
Corn
- 255 corn samples were tested
- 98% of samples are positive for at least one mycotoxin vs. 97% in 2018
- 71% of samples have more than one mycotoxin, vs 72% in 2018
- Average contamination levels for,
- B-Trich: increased to 82% vs 76% in 2018
- FUM: slightly lowered to 76% vs. 79% in 2018
- ZEN: at 46% vs. 45% in 2018
- Afla: reduced to 2% vs. 10% in 2018
- Overall, the mycotoxin contamination situation seems very similar to 2018.
Corn By-Product
- 57 corn by-product samples were tested
- All 100% of samples are positive for at least one mycotoxin vs. 95% in 2018
- 98% of samples have more than one mycotoxin, vs 90% in 2018
- Average contamination levels for,
- B-Trich: increased to 100% vs 94% in 2018
- FUM: increased to 98% vs. 91% in 2018
- ZEN: increased to 97% vs. 86% in 2018
- Afla: increased to 13% vs. 2% in 2018
- Overall, the mycotoxin contamination levels are relatively higher than 2018.
Corn Silage
- 56 corn silage samples were tested
- All 99% of samples are positive for at least one mycotoxin vs. 94% in 2018
- 46% of samples have more than one mycotoxin, vs 63% in 2018
- Average contamination levels for,
- B-Trich: increased to 96% vs 90% in 2018
- FUM: reduced to 4% vs. 22% in 2018
- ZEN: reduced to 41% vs. 57% in 2018
- Overall, B-Trichothecene prevalence levels are increased while FUM and ZEN levels are reduced compared to 2018.
Overall, producers in the Midwest should be on the lookout for the impacts from B-Trichothecene toxins such as Deoxynivalenol (DON), Nivalenol (NIV), and Zearalenone (ZEN), while Southern states should be vigilant regarding Fumonisin (FUM) and Aflatoxin (Afla) contamination.