Reading Time: 4 minutes The Ontario corn ear mould and mycotoxin survey showed levels are considerably lower than 2018 with 96 per cent of samples testing less than two parts per million of deoxynivalenol (DON). OMAFRA field crop specialists, Grain Farmers of Ontario and members of the Ontario Agri-Business Association collaborated to complete the survey. Why it matters: Farmers […] Read more
Tag Archives vomitoxin
Down with DON: a clear corn crop
Toxin levels are lower this year thanks to weather and farmer and supplier vigilance
Spring wheat futures rally on North American weather woes
Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Weather-related quality issues with North American spring wheat crops saw Minneapolis spring wheat futures rally sharply over the past three weeks, with more room to the upside as concerns mount over the state of the crop. The December contract hit a multi-year low of $4.865 per bushel at the beginning of September, but […] Read more
Where did all the DON corn go?
Most infected corn in Ontario has now been flushed to markets in ethanol and around the world, mostly at discounted prices
Reading Time: 3 minutes Last year’s deoxynivalenol (DON)-infected corn crop has been successfully sold and shipped — albeit at discounted returns for farmers. The specific destinations of that corn, discounts endured by producers and timing of sales have varied. Why it matters: The past six months show large volumes of vomitoxin-infected corn can be moved despite reduced returns for […] Read more
The DON year and dairy feed
Dairy farmers have had to manage higher mycotoxin levels in feed after last harvest. Here’s how they did it
Reading Time: 3 minutes Dairy farmers faced challenges dealing with mould in corn in 2018, as crop farmers dealt with the widespread DON outbreak. Dairy animals can manage mould levels in small doses but once levels reach a certain point, the feed becomes toxic. Why it matters: Mouldy feeds can typically cause performance losses of five to 10 per […] Read more
DON-forecasting tool funded
Governments help to pay costs to set up computerized monitoring system
Reading Time: 2 minutes 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
Grain grading revamp may add falling number, DON as factors
Reading Time: 3 minutes Two significant grain specs that aren’t yet factors for a crop’s official grade are now under consideration to join that official list. The Canadian Grain Commission on Monday put out a call for “grain sector stakeholders” to submit their views before May 10 on a proposal for falling number and deoxynivalenol (DON) to both become […] Read more
DON corn testing: A new era begins
After a disastrous vomitoxin outbreak, the Ontario Corn Committee is implementing a testing program that farmers have wanted for years. But will companies participate?
Reading Time: 4 minutes Ontario corn farmers have been relying on their own observations and those of their neighbours along with scant information from corn companies to make hybrid selections that lower their risk of vomitoxin. When they go to make their selections for 2020, however, they will have new independent disease risk numbers on which to base their […] Read more
The DON to come – agronomic lessons from 2018
Farmers have new information to consider on hybrid selection, fungicide timing
Reading Time: 4 minutes 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
Reading Time: 3 minutes 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
Reading Time: 2 minutes 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
