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Aflatoxin problems in corn
isolated to southern Illinois

[SEPT. 19, 2002]  URBANA — Recent reports indicate that elevators in southern Illinois have rejected some truckloads of corn because of the presence of aflatoxin as indicated by a black-light test. In some cases, levels have been reported as high as 200 or 300 parts per billion. That compares to the cutoff point of only 20 parts per billion for interstate commerce.

But according to Don White, professor of fungal diseases of corn in the Department of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois, the pro blem appears limited only to a small area in the southern part of the state.

"There certainly is no reason for the markets to be panicked over this development," White said. "The situation so far is restricted to a small geographical area. The growers who need to watch out are those who are harvesting a drought-stressed corn crop that is low in yield. I would be really surprised if we have enough aflatoxin in the other areas of the state to cause any real concerns."

White notes that it usually takes two consecutive years of dry weather to produce widespread problems from aflatoxin, which has not been the case in Illinois.

"The fungus that produces the toxin normally does not do well when conditions are wet," he said. "It just cannot compete well with other bacteria and fungi in such an environment. Normally, however, you need two straight dry years before the innoculum builds up to the high levels that can cause a problem."

White points out that even those growers who have their corn rejected at the elevator still have several options open to them.

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"High levels of aflatoxin are usually found only in the broken and cracked kernels," White said. "Those can often be screened out using a grain cleaner, leaving the remaining corn below the threshold for aflatoxin contamination. The loss in this process is usually only about 1 or 2 percent."

He adds that even corn with low to moderate levels of aflatoxin can also be safely fed to finishing steers.

"It is important, however, that corn with aflatoxin should never be used to feed dairy cows, because it metabolizes into an aflatoxin-like product in the milk," he said. "Chickens also are very susceptible to problems from aflatoxin. But certainly, finishing steers can handle it quite well."

White also warns against feeding any of the corn screenings, which contain the cracked and broken kernels, to any kind of animal. He further advises growers to be careful in storing drought-stressed corn, because aflatoxin can be produced in stored corn that has not been dried to at least 14.5 percent moisture content.

"At this point, there is no reason for major concern," he said. "We appear to have a problem only in drought-stressed corn from a relatively small area. We will continue to remain vigilant for any further problems as harvest continues."

[U of I news release]

[SEPT. 17, 2002]  The first "Chamber Mixer on the Farm" won’t be the last, according to Bobbi Abbott, director of the Lincoln/Logan Chamber of Commerce. "It’s been such a success that we hope to do it every year," she said.

About 75 people gathered Sunday afternoon at the Jeff Elsas farm north of town to meet their neighbors and learn how valuable farming is to the financial health of Logan County. For example, commodities from the 729 farms in the county bring in about $112 million in cash receipts each year.

[Photos by Joan Crabb]

Visitors also learned why Logan County soils are so productive. Bill Dickerson, district conservationist for Natural Resources Conservation Service, explained this as he stood in an 8-foot-deep pit dug by a backhoe for the occasion.

The chance to see a slice of good Logan County soil brought visitors to the edge of the pit. Dickerson described the soil on Elsas’ farm as "the perfect balance for crop production, as good a soil as you would find anywhere."

Sixteen inches of black topsoil sits on top of a 4-foot layer of moderately well- to well-drained silty clay loam that is "forgiving" enough to release water to plants and to allow root systems to go deep, he explained. Below the clay loam is a layer of sand.

The black organic matter came from prairie grasses, which produced much more organic matter than woodlands.

Called Tama silt loan, this soil was deposited by wind after the last glacier, the Wisconsin, receded about 15,000 years ago, according to scientists.

Mixer visitors also heard a presentation by David Ramsey of the Land of Lincoln Agriculture Coalition about the possibility of building a farmer-owned ethanol plant in Elkhart.

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Ramsey said if it becomes possible to use the waste coal from the Turris mine, the proposed plant could be one of the lowest-cost producers in the area. Turris is working on ways to clean up high-sulfur Illinois coal so it can meet Environmental Protection Agency standards.

Ramsey said the proposed plant would use only the starch and sugar in corn to make the ethanol, so the portion of the grain left would contain protein and be suitable for animal feed.

Of every 10 gallons of gasoline American drivers use, five gallons come from imported oil, four come from domestic oil, which is environmentally costly to produce, and one gallon comes from ethanol. That one gallon of ethanol would be renewable every year, unlike the other nine gallons in the tank, he said.

As other gasoline additives that reduce vehicle emissions are being phased out, the demand for ethanol will rise from the 2.4 billion gallons now in use to three billion gallons, perhaps as high as 5.5 billion gallons within 10 years.

The proposed Elkhart plant would cost $75 million and require about 1,000 farmer-landowner investors. It would create 41 permanent jobs at the plant along with another 700 jobs for others, such as truckers hauling its products, he said.

The Land of Lincoln Agriculture Coalition is a "think tank" of farmers and agribusiness people that for the past two years has been trying to find ways to add value to agriculture, according to Ramsey.

A highlight of the day for about 15 of the visitors was a ride on Elsas’ eight-row John Deere combine as it took a turn around the field. Some saw for the first time a combine turning rows of standing corn into wagons full of golden kernels.

Elizabeth Murray Collins, almost 8 years old, was impressed with the demonstration.

"I’ve never been on anything that big before," she said.

While demonstrating the combine, Elsas also got most of a 30-acre stand of corn harvested, said his farming partner Steve Haseley. Haseley said Elsas was getting about 180-185 bushels to the acre, with about 20 percent moisture content.

The harvested corn was trucked to the East Lincoln elevator, which Hugh Whalen opened especially to accommodate Elsas and the chamber mixer, Haseley said.

Bill Sahs of Lincoln was coordinator of the event, and Larry Huelskoetter, chairman of the chamber’s ag awareness subcommittee, served as master of ceremonies.

Farm equipment from Atlanta Ag Center and Central Illinois Ag, also of Atlanta, was on the grounds for visitors to see.

Marty Ahrends, co-chairman of the chamber’s ag committee, said the chamber appreciated the cooperation of Elsas and Haseley for the event.

"The ag committee and other producers in Logan County are going to do a value-added agriculture visioning process this winter to identify strengths and weaknesses and look for opportunities to add value to the agricultural operation and to the commodities they produce," she said.

Abbott said she believes it is very important to make connections between business people and ag producers. "I think we have made a good start with this event," she said.

[Joan Crabb]

Weekly outlook

September reports

[SEPT. 17, 2002]  URBANA — The relatively high level of prices, the lack of carry in the corn and soybean price structure, and the absence of loan deficiency payments all favor harvest sales of corn and soybeans, said a University of Illinois Extension marketing specialist.

"However, the tightness in the balance sheets, the uncertainty about the South American growing season and the need for large crops in the Northern Hemisphere next year suggest that some ownership should be maintained into the winter and spring months," said Darrel Good.

"Speculating on higher prices by storing the crops is relatively expensive. Basis contracts or ownership of futures may be less expensive, but not all producers are willing to use these tools. The Commodity Credit Corporation loan provides cash flow for those who choose to store part of the crop."

Good’s comments came as he reviewed the USDA’s September reports. The report of U.S. and world crop prospects contained no major surprises. At 8.849 billion bushels, the U.S. corn crop projection was 37 million bushels smaller than the August projection, even though the U.S. average yield estimate was increased by 0.2 bushels, to 125.4 bushels. Stocks of U.S. corn at the end of the 2002-03 marketing year are expected to be a meager 729 million bushels, the lowest level in seven years.

Compared to the year just ended, the USDA projects a 225-million-bushel reduction in feed and residual use of corn during the current marketing year, a 115-million-bushel increase in domestic processing use of corn, and a 100-million-bushel increase in U.S. exports.

"Few doubt that processing use of corn will increase, due to expanded ethanol capacity," said Good. "Opinions differ on prospective feeding and exports of U.S. corn. The projected decline in feed use will have to come as the result of fewer animals or a decline in the amount of grain fed per animal since the decline in corn consumption is not expected to be offset by increased feeding of other grains.

"The USDA’s Dec. 1 Grain Stocks report, to be released in early January, will reveal the rate of domestic feed and residual use of corn during the first quarter of the 2002-03 marketing year. That report will be important in determining if corn prices are generating the necessary adjustments in use."

Good added that the projected increase in U.S. corn exports reflects expectations of a small increase in world consumption and a decline in exports from Argentina. Chinese exports are expected to increase by 59 million bushels (19 percent) due to a 433-million-bushel (10 percent) increase in production. As of Sept. 5, 244 million bushels of U.S. corn had been sold for export during the current marketing year, 17 million less than sales of a year ago.

"The market will continue to monitor weekly sales and export reports, as well as the sales of Chinese corn, for clues as to the accuracy of the USDA projection," said Good.

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At 2.656 billion bushels, the USDA’s September projection of the U.S. soybean crop was 28 million bushels larger than the August projection. A small reduction in the projection of harvested acreage was more than offset by an increase in the expected yield. The U.S. average yield is now projected at 37 bushels per acre, 0.5 bushels above the August projection but 2.6 bushels below the 2001 average yield.

For the current U.S. marketing year, the USDA projects a 215-million-bushel (20 percent) decline in exports and a 25-million-bushel (1.5 percent) decline in the domestic crush.

"The decline in consumption is being required by the smaller crop," said Good. "Year-ending stocks are expected to total only 160 million bushels, the lowest level in six years. Part of the reduction will be accomplished through higher prices, but much of the cut in U.S. exports is expected to be offset by larger South American exports.

"For the year October 2002 through September 2003, the USDA expects South American exports to total 1.25 billion bushels, 367 million bushels more than exported in the previous 12 months. The larger projection reflects the large 2002 South American crop, an expected 8.7 percent increase in production in 2003 and continued expansion in world soybean consumption."

As of Sept. 5, export sales of U.S. soybeans totaled 213 million bushels, 4.5 million larger than sales of a year ago. The market will continue to pay close attention to the rate of U.S. soybean export sales and the development of the South American crop.

Corn and soybean prices moved higher prior to the release of the USDA’s report on Sept. 12. The lack of surprises in the report and the start of the Midwest harvest allowed December corn futures to decline about 20 cents and November soybean futures to decline about 30 cents following the release of the reports.

"In addition to the ongoing reports on the rate of consumption, the market will react to yield reports over the next several weeks," said Good. "Given the expected drawdown in U.S. and world inventories, small changes in expected crop size could have important price implications.

"Those small inventories also mean that prices could be very sensitive to 2003-04 production prospects."

[U of I news release]

Learn more about global food security

[SEPT. 14, 2002]  URBANA — Food safety and security is the theme of a series of free public lectures to be presented at the University of Illinois this fall. William Masters, professor of agricultural economics at Purdue University, will be the featured speaker from 4 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 3, in the ACES Library, Information and Alumni Center.

Masters has done research on food production, policy and trade in Africa and around the world. The title of his talk will be "Institutions and Technology for Food Security: Peril and Progress."

"America has traditionally viewed food security as a problem of the developing world, but no more," said Steven Pueppke, associate dean of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at U of I. "One of the many lessons of Sept. 11 is that food security is a global challenge from which no nation is exempt."

Because of this new, heightened awareness about food safety and security, Pueppke said that America’s Land Grant universities, including the U of I’s College of ACES, are vitally interested in the complexity of global food production and movement. "This system," Pueppke said, "affects not only the welfare of millions of people, but also our markets, our international policies and the security of our own food supply."

Masters said that there is abundant food available in most of the world, but Africa and South Asia still suffer from widespread malnutrition.

"For decades, poverty in these regions was linked to social institutions and policy choices," said Masters. "Those policies are now changing, and there is a critical need for appropriate new technologies. Without government-funded research and development, no amount of market reform will give farmers the right kinds of seeds — or new medicines for tropical diseases."

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Masters’ research points to the key role of science-based innovation in the global economy and the large payoffs from investing in public-sector research and development on tropical agriculture and public health. But Masters admits that building political support for this may be particularly difficult now because of the relative abundance of food elsewhere in the world.

ACES Library, Information and Alumni Center is located near the south end of the University of Illinois campus. From Pennsylvania Avenue, turn north to the octagonal library building. Metered parking is available on surrounding streets.

The seminar, part of a series of public lectures on global food security, is sponsored in part by ACES Global Connect, the international arm of the College of Agricultural Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois. The final lecture in the series will feature Werner Kiene, representative of the United Nations World Food Programme to the Bretton Woods Institutions, and will be from 4 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 7.

For more information visit http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/global/seminar.

[U of I news release]

[SEPT. 12, 2002]  URBANA — Dozens of farm workers are killed by electrocution each year when their farm machines and equipment make contact with overhead power lines. These tragic accidents are preventable.

With harvest season getting under way, the Safe Electricity program urges farm workers to take note of electrical lines when moving equipment such as portable grain augers, oversized wagons and large combines, and to use a qualified electrician for electrical system repairs.

"The rush to harvest can cause farm workers to skip important safety steps," said Molly Hall, director of Safe Electricity. "Tragic deaths and injuries can be avoided if precautions are taken, like making sure everyone who works on the farm knows the location of power lines and keeps farm equipment at least 10 feet away from them."

"Equipment contacting overhead power lines is the leading cause of farm electrocution accidents in the Midwest," said Bob Aherin, University of Illinois agricultural safety specialist. "Moving portable grain augers poses the greatest risk because those who are [on] the ground moving the equipment would provide a direct path for electricity if there’s a contact with overhead wires."

"Always lower grain augers before moving them, even if it’s only a few feet. Variables like wind, uneven ground, shifting weight or other conditions can combine to create an unexpected result," Aherin said.

Farm workers also are advised not to use metal poles when breaking up bridged grain inside and around bins and to use qualified electricians for work on drying equipment and other farm electrical systems.

"It’s also important for operators of farm equipment or vehicles to know what to do if the vehicle comes in contact with a power line," Hall said. "It’s almost always best to stay in the cab, call for help and wait until the electric utility arrives to make sure power to the line is cut off."

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"If the power line is energized and you step outside, your body becomes the path and electrocution is the result," Aherin said. "Even if a power line has landed on the ground, there is still the potential for the area nearby to be energized. Stay inside the vehicle unless there’s fire or imminent risk of fire."

In that case, the proper action is to jump — not step — with both feet hitting the ground at the same time. Jump clear, without touching the vehicle and ground at the same time and continue to shuffle or hop to safety, keeping both feet together, as you leave the area.

"Like the ripples in a pond or lake, the voltage diminishes the farther out it is from the source," Aherin said. "Stepping from one voltage level to another allows the body to become a path for that electricity. A large difference in voltage between both feet could kill you.

"Be sure that at no time you or anyone touches the equipment and the ground at the same time. Never should the operator simply step out of the vehicle — the person must jump clear."

Prevention of electricity-related tragedies is the goal of Safe Electricity, a statewide program created by a coalition of nearly three dozen organizations, including Illinois investor-owned electric utilities, electric cooperatives and the University of Illinois. All are members of the Illinois Electric Council, a nonprofit industry forum, which launched the safety awareness program last year.

In addition to public service announcements and other outreach efforts, Safe Electricity has an online electrical safety center, www.SafeElectricity.org. The section on agribusiness provides tips and detailed information for farm workers. Residential safety, contractor safety, teacher resources, and youth games and activities can also be found at this site on the Web.

[U of I news release]

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