The federal and provincial governments are supporting the creation of an early-warning and risk assessment system for deoxynivalenol (DON). Grain Farmers of Ontario is leading the project which will work similarly to a DON-forecasting system in place for years for wheat in the province. That system monitors weather conditions to predict DON risk, which helps […] Read more
Tag Archives mycotoxins
DON-forecasting tool funded
Governments help to pay costs to set up computerized monitoring system
Province, federal government announce corn salvage benefit
Program will gives farmers more options when corn quality is poor in the future
Farmers should have more salvage benefit options in future years if they have a serious corn quality problem like this year’s DON challenges. The federal and provincial governments recently announced a new tiered corn salvage benefit that will be introduced to production insurance plans. This is in response to requests from farmers who, as a […] Read more
Loan program gets extension, funding boost
Changes made to the Commodity Loan Program to help deal with DON-infected corn financial challenges
Changes to the Commodity Loan Program (CLP) have been made to help farmers dealing with extreme harvest issues across the province. Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) asked for an extension back in November to assist farmers across the province managing challenges with corn crop quality this year. Why it matters: The CLP changes will help […] Read more
The DON to come – agronomic lessons from 2018
Farmers have new information to consider on hybrid selection, fungicide timing
The vomitoxin problem in Ontario’s 2018 corn crop was more severe than most years and continues to cause problems for producers and buyers. However, the fungus-fostering conditions that caused the issue offer agronomic lessons for managing deoxynivalenol (DON) risk. According to Dale Cowan, senior agronomist and sales manager for AGRIS Co-operative and Wanstead Farmers Co-operative, […] Read more
Corn hybrid testing for DON needs industry support
There is currently no screening program for susceptibility to DON for corn in Ontario
Farmers continue to search for better ways to manage risk of an outbreak of deoxynivalenol (DON) in future corn crops. One of the areas of most interest is figuring out which corn hybrids are most susceptible to infection. There is currently no screening program for vomitoxin in corn hybrids in Ontario. Why it matters: Finding […] Read more
How the new DON testing cost-share program works
Funds will share half of the cost of DON testing or equipment purchase so farmers can know what they have in their bins
With vomitoxin (DON) levels prevalent in this year’s corn crop, the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) says a new DON testing cost-sharing initiative will help producers strategically market their grain. Why it matters: OSCIA says the cost-sharing program will help farmers know how severe their deoxynivalenol (DON) issues are, and how to market […] Read more
Governments promise help for farmers with DON-infected corn
There are few details yet for the federal-provincial program
The federal and provincial governments have announced steps to help Ontario corn farmers hit by high deoxynivalenol (DON), in their crop through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. Why it matters: Corn farmers in Ontario are continuing to try to get their corn harvested, while dealing with serious quality issues that depending on geography and local buyers, […] Read more
GFO letter addresses corn quality situation
Editor’s note: Grain Farmers of Ontario has issued an open letter to its members addressing some of the challenges with DON-infected corn in Ontario and frustrations boiling to the surface from some farmers. Here’s what it says: An open letter to our GFO farmer-members We are facing one of the most severe outbreaks of DON […] Read more
Take mycotoxin health hazards seriously
Use masks and gloves when handling mycotoxin-contaminated corn
High rates of mycotoxin in this year’s corn crop might be financially unfortunate – but don’t let it ruin your health. Mycotoxins, that is, can cause major health problems if inhaled through the dust generated during grain harvesting and handling. It’s a hazard that’s neither new nor uncommon, and one that requires extra attention when […] Read more
Corn mycotoxin levels high this harvest season
The provincial agriculture department advises special care to limit the effects of various toxins and moulds in feed
It’s a corn crop mycotoxin year. The annual survey conducted by OMAFRA field crop staff in collaboration with the Grain Farmers of Ontario and the Ontario Agri-Business Association has found that 60 per cent of samples tested low (less than two parts per million) for vomitoxin. The mycotoxins that are of concern are produced primarily […] Read more
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