The severe drought experienced during June and early July could increase the likelihood of aflatoxin contamination in the grain, especially on stressed dryland acreage.
Producers can minimize the threat of aflatoxin buildup in the field by harvesting early.
Harvest timing directly influences the duration corn is subjected to environmental conditions. Corn reaches physiological maturity at about 30 percent moisture and can be harvested at any time thereafter. Aspergillus flavus on corn kernels. The objective of harvesting early is to reduce fungal exposure to warm, humid conditions during dry down by artificially drying the corn. Wet grain not quickly dried during warm conditions, however, begins heating up to intolerable levels quickly due to excessive grain respiration.