News Corn Diseases
Ontario corn ear mould and DON survey shows levels lower than long-term averages

Field crop specialists with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), in collaboration with Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO) and members of the Ontario Agri-Business Association (OABA), have completed the annual Ontario corn ear mould and DON mycotoxin survey.

Corn ear moulds such as Gibberella and their corresponding mycotoxins occur every year in Ontario. These mycotoxins, particularly deoxynivalenol (DON, also referred to as vomitoxin) are produced primarily by Gibberella/Fusarium ear moulds and can be disruptive when fed to livestock, especially hogs.

The 2022 survey found 98 per cent of samples tested low (<2.00 parts per million (ppm)) for DON, suggesting levels are lower than long-term survey averages, but local conditions should be considered when evaluating field risk. |READ MORE