Aflatoxin and Grain Storage

September 27, 2012
ICM News

By Charles Hurburgh, Department of Ag and Biosystems Engineering

In previous articles, we have discussed the aflatoxin issue from several angles — scouting, testing, use and handling. One key point is that once grain is dry and cold, or even just cold, the Aspergillus flavus fungus is rarely able to grow and produce more toxin. However, at least two problematic situations are arising —bin dryers operated at medium temperatures (below 120F) and high variability of moisture within fields.

The optimum temperature for aflatoxin production is 75-95F with moistures greater than 18 percent. A bin dryer operating with input air below 120F will "store" the grain during drying at these temperatures. If the bin is full, drying times of four to six days are not uncommon. In this case, grain already containing the Aspergillus fungus can experience increased aflatoxin levels.

The correction is to increase drying air temperatures beyond 120F.  Some bin drying systems with rapid stirring systems can go as high as 160F; others with less grain circulation may be limited to around 140F. Half batches will also help; shallower grain depth will increase airflow and cause less grain be held at higher moistures. It would be better in this case to dry two half batches instead of one full batch. The outside air temperatures have fallen enough that the corn in the field is now less likely to increase in toxin. Holding it in the field may be preferable to having it warm in a dryer.

High temperature batch and continuous flow dryers are not susceptible to this problem, but wet corn should be held in high airflow wet holding (to maintain cold temperatures) or in the field. As an example, today's conditions of about 80F and 30 percent relative humidity will hold aerated wet grain at about 45-50F because of evaporative cooling of dry air. This is below the growth conditions for Aspergillus flavus mold, although in time other more temperature resistant fungi will grow at those temperatures. Low temperature-natural air drying will also work under these conditions because the wet grain will not be warm enough to sustain the fungus.

In some cases, very high ranges of moisture are being experienced within the same field, for example 15 percent to 30 percent. Dryers will not equalize this moisture in one pass; there will be some wet corn remaining even after the average reaches 15 percent. Low temperature is the only control method for this situation; extra cooling cycles to bring the grain temperature immediately below 50F.

Corn will segregate somewhat by moisture if it is drop filled in a bin; this means that both the high moisture and the fines will collect in the center. It will be very important to remove the center core right away; in large bins (over 50 feet dia), two removals would be advisable.

Pay attention to the yield monitor moisture output to estimate which fields are likely to be a storage problem from moisture variations. Crop insurance will not cover quality issues after harvest.

Charles Hurburgh is a professor in the Department of Ag and Biosystems Engineering. He can be reached at 515-294-8629 or e-mail tatry@iastate.edu.

Category: 

Links to this article are strongly encouraged, and this article may be republished without further permission if published as written and if credit is given to the author, Integrated Crop Management News, and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. If this article is to be used in any other manner, permission from the author is required. This article was originally published on September 27, 2012. The information contained within may not be the most current and accurate depending on when it is accessed.

Author: 

Charles Hurburgh Professor, Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

Dr. Charles R. Hurburgh, Charlie to most everyone, is a native Iowan from Rockwell City (Iowa, USA). He continues to operate the family farm, and is a professor of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at Iowa State University. He has a bachelor's degree, master's degree, and doctoral degree fr...