Vomitoxin levels are much higher in corn this fall than
last, according to a survey by staff of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture,
Food and Rural Affairs.
The situation is worst in Southern Ontario.
The ministry is recommending farmers check their crops and
harvest as early as possible to keep the poison from developing under moist
field conditions.
Hog farmers in particular need to be cautious about feeding
corn that’s contaminated, the ministry says. Abortions are one of several issues related to vomitoxin in hog rations.
The
survey found vomitoxin levels of more than two parts per million in 26 per cent
of the 121 samples gathered.
That’s
21 per cent higher than last year and 15 per cent more than any of the last
five years.
There are
higher levels in fields where cobs were damaged by Western Bean Cutworms and
where there was incomplete pollination.
