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Ohio Corn and Wheat pushing for more mycotoxin research

The director of public policy for Ohio Corn and Wheat says more investments in mycotoxin research are needed.

Luke Crumley says the U.S. House Appropriations Bill includes funds designated for vomitoxin research.

“Those funds flow to researchers like the folks at Ohio State University who are going to really put them to the best use possible and study how this disease can be addressed across all kinds of growing environments,” he says.

He says the provision is not currently included in the Senate version. However, Crumley tells Brownfield the National Corn Growers Association and its state partners are investing checkoff dollars to advance their own studies.

“It’s going to guarantee that our cattle and feed markets, our ethanol markets, our corn markets are protected from this disease into the future,” he says. “Vomitoxin is now showing up somewhere in some scale across the state almost every year.”

The Ohio Corn Checkoff recently partnered with Ohio State University to advance solutions aimed at protecting corn quality.

Crumley says with commodity prices where they are, understanding the economic impacts of mycotoxins is essential for farmers.

AUDIO: Luke Crumley, Ohio Corn and Wheat