2012
LOGAN COUNTY FARM OUTLOOK MAGAZINE. LINCOLN DAILY NEWS.com October 23, 2012
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can still be used for animal feed so long as
they do not exceed certain levels:
•
Corn for lactating dairy animals may not
exceed 20 ppb.
•
Corn for breeding beef, dairy cattle,
breeding swine or mature poultry cannot
exceed 100 ppb.
•
Corn for finishing swine of 100 pounds
or greater cannot exceed 200 ppb.
•
Finally,
corn
for
finishing beef cattle
cannot exceed 300
ppb.
According to survey
results
from
the
Illinois
Department
of Agriculture, as of
Sept. 13, 32 out of 136
samples, or 23.5 percent,
of Illinois corn tested had aflatoxin levels
above 20 ppb.
In 2011, only six out of 397 corn samples
contained more than 20 ppb of aflatoxin.
As for Logan County this year, nine of the
samples reported have contained between
50
and 100 ppb of aflatoxin.
Peters said the situation concerning
aflatoxin this year has been reminiscent
of the problem with diplodia in 2009.
However, that year’s growing season had
the opposite problem: a very wet season
as opposed to a dry, hot season.
Long-lasting and extreme daytime
temperatures, the lack of cool night
temperatures, poor soil moisture, no rains
when needed for pollination processes, as
well as the growing presence of aflatoxin
--
all took their toll on yields this year.
In turn, the reduced crop yields affect
livestock farms as well. Lower crop yields
result in higher grain costs, therefore
higher costs for feeding
livestock.
Also,
the
presence of aflatoxins
in feed can result in sow
abortions and death in
young piglets.
Another
side
of
agriculture that has been
affected by the drought is
the business aspect of farming. As a result
of the drought, farmers will be looking to
cover their financial losses.
Unfortunately, the farm bill expired in
September. There is currently no legislation
to ensure price protection for the farmers.
There is a new bill sitting in the House of
Representatives, but progress has stalled.
As for what farmers can do to protect their
investments, Peters advised: “Document
everything, just in case something should
happen that would include this season.”
Peters also said that farmers should make
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