Farmers watch for poison-producing fungus

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by Josh Egbert

Story Created: Sep 25, 2012 at 11:34 AM CDT

Story Updated: Sep 25, 2012 at 11:34 AM CDT

This summer's drought has farmers, crop inspectors and grain elevators in Nebraska, Iowa and other corn-producing states keeping an eye out for corn contaminated by a poison-producing fungus.

They're watching for signs of aflatoxins that, in sufficient quantity, are poisonous to humans and animals.

This year's extreme drought and high temperatures promote development of the disease Aspergiullus.

The fungi that cause this disease can produce aflatoxin.

Jenny Rees with the Clay County UNL Extension Office says offices across the state are seeing the fungi.

"If you look at the drought monitor map, the whole state of Nebraska is in a drought and so it just really depends maybe on the rainfall if they had rain at different times; there's just a lot of things that can determine whether that fungus produces aflatoxin or not," said Rees.

Aflatoxin at certain concentrations, can lead to dockage or rejection of grain at elevators.

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