Monday Mycotoxin & Crop Report for August 24, 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 the season progresses, we will continue to monitor weather conditions for likelihood of toxin contamination, and report on verified levels of toxin from the field.

1. Confirmed DON levels reported in winter wheat.
2. Corn progressing quickly as some regions reach maturity.
3. Spring wheat and barley harvest underway as regions continue to be monitored for mycotoxin contamination.

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Weekly Weather Summary

Increased precipitation was observed across the northern Rockies, northern Plains, central Plains, and Ohio Valley while dry conditions were noted throughout the Pacific Coast, southern Plains, Delta, Southeast, upper Mississippi Valley, and Great Lakes.

As major risk windows for mycotoxins within the growing season have passed, recent weather conditions primarily affect further development in crops and fieldwork. Weather conditions across the country were mostly favorable for fieldwork – with the exception of areas in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia.

Crop Progress & Condition Overview

• Winter wheat - Winter wheat harvest is nearly complete at 96% - two percentage points ahead of the five-year average. 
  Confirmed levels of DON have been reported in the following states:
  • Michigan: 1 ppm
  • Illinois: 2 ppm
  • Ohio and West Virginia: 3 ppm

Monitoring continues for any emerging reports of DON or other mycotoxin concerns. While much of the crop matured under widespread drought pressure, isolated regions that received timely precipitation during critical development periods should still be observed as grain quality data becomes available. States at highest risk for DON or zearalenone are Pennsylvania, New York, Michigan, Ohio, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.

• Corn – Corn continues to progress ahead of the five-year average on an overall basis – 97% has reached the silking stage, 76% has reached the dough stage, 29% has reached the dented stage, and 4% has reached maturity. 60% of this year’s crop remains in good to excellent condition – down one percentage point from last week. The following states have pockets of corn that are behind the national average of very poor and poor condition: Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Dakota and Texas. Overall, crop in poor condition is driven by heat and drought stress.
  
  Much of the nation’s corn is past the highest risk windows for mycotoxin contamination – as harvest begins and progresses, Neogen will monitor for confirmed mycotoxin levels. The Great Plains and central production areas remain at the highest risk for aflatoxin and fumonisin, while the northern Plains, Ohio Valley, and upper Midwest are highest risk for DON and Zearalenone.
  
  
  
• Spring Wheat –  Spring wheat harvest has progressed quickly, with 41% of acreage complete – seven percentage points ahead of the five-year average. 52% of the crop is considered in good to excellent condition, one percentage point ahead of last week. 
  
  The following states have pockets of spring wheat that are behind the national average of very poor and poor condition: Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Washington.
  
  As harvest continues, continued monitoring of grain quality remains important in areas that experienced repeated rainfall events during heading and grain-fill periods.  Areas of North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana are most elevated for DON risk.
  
   
• Barley –Harvest is underway for barley – 43% of acreage has been harvested, five points ahead of the five-year average. 51% of the crop is in good to excellent condition, one percentage point ahead of last week. The following states have pockets of barley that are behind the national average of very poor and poor condition: Montana and North Dakota.
  
  As harvest progresses, growers and grain handlers should continue monitoring quality indicators in regions that received prolonged moisture during the flowering and heading stages. States most susceptible to DON risk are areas of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota. 
  
  

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