Monday Mycotoxin & Crop Report for October 12, 2026

Welcome to this week’s edition of the Monday Mycotoxin & Crop Report!

This report serves as a bi-weekly update for crop conditions, weather outlook, and mycotoxin levels. Information is sourced from the USDA, NIDIS, and US Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative.

As harvest activity continues across major growing regions, weather patterns remain mixed. Heavy rainfall slowed fieldwork across portions of the western Corn Belt and Four Corners region, while warmer-than-normal temperatures prevailed across much of the Plains, Mississippi Valley, and Northeast. Corn harvest remains behind the 5-year average, and winter wheat planting continues to trail historical pace.

Winter wheat harvest has concluded.

1. Corn maturity reached 83%, while harvest advanced to 23%. National corn condition declined to 54% good-to-excellent.
2. Winter wheat planting reached 36%, with 16% of the crop emerged, both below the 5-year average.
3. Above-normal rainfall across portions of the southern Rockies and Great Plains improved moisture conditions but delayed fieldwork in some areas.
   
   

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Weekly Weather Summary

Temperatures were above normal across most of the country during the reporting period. Parts of the northern Rockies, southern Great Plains, and lower Mississippi Valley recorded temperatures ranging from 4°F to 8°F above normal. Rainfall varied significantly, with dry conditions dominating the Pacific Northwest, Ohio Valley, and Mid-Atlantic. In contrast, portions of the southern Rockies and Great Plains received above-normal precipitation, with some locations receiving 2 to 4 times the normal weekly rainfall. Arizona and New Mexico also recorded precipitation totals exceeding twice the normal weekly amount.

At this stage of the season, mycotoxin risk is shifting from crop development to harvest and grain management. Continued wet conditions may increase the risk of harvest delays and grain quality concerns in affected regions, while warm and drier conditions across other production areas support harvest progress and reduce additional field exposure.

Crop Progress & Condition Overview

• Winter Wheat – Planting of the 2027 winter wheat crop reached 36% by October 4, trailing the 5-year average by 10 percentage points. Emergence reached 16%, 4 percentage points behind the 5-year average.
  
  Recent rainfall across portions of the Plains improved soil moisture availability for newly planted wheat. However, planting delays in several regions may compress establishment windows and warrant continued monitoring of crop development heading into late fall.
  
  For harvested 2026 winter wheat, mycotoxin concerns have largely shifted from field development to grain quality monitoring and storage. Areas that experienced significant moisture during grain development should continue testing stored grain for DON and related quality concerns. 
  
  DON levels have been observed in the following states:
  • Michigan: 1 ppm
  • Illinois: 2 ppm
  • Ohio and West Virginia: 3 ppm

• Corn – Eighty-three percent of the nation's corn crop was mature by October 4, matching the 5-year average. Harvest reached 23%, which is 4 percentage points behind the 5-year average. National condition ratings declined to 54% good-to-excellent, down 3 percentage points from the previous week. Iowa, the largest corn-producing state, reported 72% of corn in good-to-excellent condition.
  
  The following states have pockets of corn that are behind the national average of very poor and poor conditions: Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Dakota and Texas.
  
  Risk remains elevated in drought-stressed areas, where prolonged heat and below-normal moisture favor aflatoxin and fumonisin development. In contrast, portions of the Corn Belt and Great Lakes region received excessive rainfall that may slow harvest progress and increase the likelihood of localized DON concerns where ears remain exposed to wet conditions. We are receiving initial reports of DON in areas of Ontario and will continue to monitor as more information and confirmed levels are received.
  
  Aflatoxin levels have been observed in the following states:
  • Iowa: 20 ppb
  • Kansas: 20–50 ppb
  
  Fumonison levels have been observed in the following states:
  • Kansas: 5–10 ppm
    
    
    
• Soybeans– Eighty-five percent of the soybean crop had dropped leaves by October 4, while harvest reached 25%. Harvest progress remains 8 percentage points behind the 5-year average. National soybean condition ratings declined slightly to 57% good-to-excellent.
  
  The following states have pockets of corn that are behind the national average of very poor and poor conditions: Kansas, Michigan, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
  
  Recent rainfall in portions of the Corn Belt and Great Plains may continue to slow harvest activity in some locations. Producers in wetter regions should monitor harvested and stored grain quality where delayed field access occurs.
  
  
  

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