Extreme heat and drought created prime growing conditions for Aspergillus ear rot as seen on this ear. The fungus produces aflatoxin, a toxic carcinogen that also can cause health problems in livestock. (Purdue University photo by Charles Woloshuk)

Tips for storing mycotoxin-contaminated grain

Angie Peltier, University of Illinois Extension agriculture educator for Northwest Illinois, and Kevin Black, GROWMARK insect/plant disease technical manager, offered the following tips for storing mycotoxin-contaminated grain.

Dan Grant

Published: Sep 14, 2012

Mycotoxins present in grain are not broken down by the drying process. Farmers have several options to decrease the risk for increasing mycotoxin concentrations in stored corn, Peltier said.

Start with clean grain bins and store contaminated grain separately from uncontaminated grain.

Set the combine to kick out lightweight kernels and minimize kernel damage during harvest.

Before storing, clean the grain using a rotary cleaner if possible.

All of the mycotoxin-producing fungi can continue to grow and produce mycotoxins in grain with more than 21 percent moisture. If you anticipate large-scale infections, harvest at higher moisture (up to 25 percent) levels and dry rapidly at high temperatures.

“Start with a goal to get the moisture down to 15 to 15.5 percent,” Black said. “After that, it depends on how long you plan to store it.

“Bring it (the moisture level) down to 14 percent if you’re going to keep the grain for up to six months and get it down to 13 percent if you plan to store (the grain) longer (than six months).”

Aflatoxin can continue to accumulate in grain with moisture levels above 15 percent. Cool all grain after heat drying as soon as possible. Long-term storage of aflatoxin- contaminated grain generally is not recommended.

Use of a bin-spreader also is recommended when storing aflatoxin-contaminated grain, Black added.

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