Mycotoxin Outlook for 2025 Harvest – Part 2

In the September issue of The Digest, we provided an overview of some of the stressors and scenarios that influence the risk for mycotoxins in crops. As harvest progresses throughout the Corn Belt, we will continue to source samples and begin to characterize 2025 contamination as part of our annual mycotoxin survey. This article will dig deeper into the environmental conditions which occurred this growing season and use those observations to predict what contamination might look like within the 2025 corn crop while we patiently wait as our survey dataset grows.

Mycotoxin Outlook for 2025 Harvest – Part 1

Variable = one good word to describe planting and growing conditions for the 2025 crop year. This is true across the country and applies within locations too as variable temperature and precipitation patterns have occurred this year. Realistically, that’s not that unusual but it seems like more places have gone from one extreme to the other since spring. The USDA recently released record yield projections (188.8 bushels per acre) and increased acres of corn planted to the highest acreage since 1937. Despite the record production projections, there are rumblings from the field about disease pressures in various areas which could limit the potential for a record harvest. Mycotoxins can occur even when yields are good. So, what mycotoxins could we expect in new crops knowing conditions have varied and there is disease out there? This article is the first in a series sharing insights into potential mycotoxin contamination patterns in the 2025 corn crop.

Prepartum Mycotoxins May Trigger Shortened Gestation Periods and Affect Cow & Calf Health and Survival

Throughout the dairy production cycle, it is imperative that high forage and water quality are maintained. A multitude of potential challenges can exist when it comes to feed and water quality on farms. Molds and mycotoxins are potential contaminants which can disrupt animal health and performance and are found in a wide variety of feedstuffs. The dry period is a critical time in the dairy cow’s life which has significant implications to the subsequent lactation and also heavily influences the calf. Any contamination of the feed or water supply can have serious consequences on the performance of the herd and its progeny, especially during the dry period and transition to lactation when cows are especially susceptible to such challenges.