Growing conditions can change from year to year – but U.S. grades and safety standards for grain remain stable. Domestic and export buyers are sure to receive safe cargoes of corn based on buyer-seller contract terms and minimum requirements of U.S. grain grades and standards thanks to the U.S. grain marketing system. The U.S. Grains Council closely monitors aflatoxin levels in the United States so it can appropriately address the concerns of its global customers. The National Corn Growers Association – a founding member of the U.S. Grains Council – says the Council’s annual U.S. Corn Harvest Quality Report will be a key tool in releasing this information. The report is set to be released at the end of November.

NCGA President Garry Niemeyer notes farmers are dedicated to providing domestic and international customers with safe, quality corn. He says NCGA commends the Council’s efforts to help overseas customers understand the procedures in place to ensure the safety and quality of the product they will receive.

The drought and high temperatures across the Midwest this year have raised concerns about the possibility of higher levels of aflatoxin. Aflatoxin occurs naturally in crops – but generally at very low levels that do not pose a threat to animal health. The U.S. grain marketing system monitors corn continuously to ensure corn with elevated levels of aflatoxin – which could cause sickness or death in animals – are not transported. NCGA notes the safety standards for U.S. corn are the same for both domestic and export shipments. All corn export shipments from the U.S. are tested for aflatoxin. Any graded grain can contain only 20 parts per bushel of aflatoxin or less for it to be exported. Human foods and feed intended for dairy cattle must contain less than 20 parts per bushel.

So far this harvest season – Kansas State University’s Jay O’Neil says aflatoxin does not appear to be a significant problem. While some aflatoxin levels have been observed in several U.S. Corn Belt states – almost all are below the 20 parts per bushel limit. For example – NCGA reports one private grain inspection service in Nebraska said most of the tests it has completed were zero or only one parts per bushel. O’Neil says more will be known once more of the crop is harvested.