Monday Mycotoxin & Crop Report for September 14, 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. Winter wheat harvest has concluded.
2. Corn development remains ahead of average, with 96% at the dough stage, 76% dented, 25% mature, and 5% harvested. National condition ratings held at 56% good-to-excellent.
3. Spring wheat harvest reached 86%, while barley harvest reached 90%, both exceeding historical averages.

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Weekly Weather Summary

Weather conditions remained highly variable across U.S. agricultural regions. Temperatures averaged 4°F to 10°F above normal across much of the central and eastern United States, while the West experienced temperatures 2°F to 10°F below normal. Significant rainfall was limited across much of the Plains, middle and lower Mississippi Valley, and Ohio Valley, where many locations received less than 25% of normal precipitation. Meanwhile, portions of the northern Plains and Great Lakes recorded more than twice their normal weekly rainfall.

Mycotoxin risk remains divided by region. Heat and moisture stress across the southern Plains and central production areas continue to support elevated aflatoxin and fumonisin risk in corn approaching harvest. In contrast, wetter conditions across portions of the northern Plains and Great Lakes may prolong localized DON risk where grain remains in the field and harvest is delayed. As harvest expands, storage management and routine testing become increasingly important risk mitigation tools.

Crop Progress & Condition Overview

• Winter Wheat - Planting for the 2027 winter wheat crop has begun, with 2% of intended acreage planted nationwide. Planting progress trails both last year and the 5-year average. Washington reported the most advanced planting activity at 16%.
  
  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 – Corn development remains ahead of normal nationwide. By September 6, 96% of corn had reached the dough stage, 76% had dented, and 25% was mature. Harvest reached 5% completion. National condition ratings declined to 56% good-to-excellent, down 1 percentage point from the prior week and 12 points below this time last year. Iowa reported 77% 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 condition: Colorado, Kansas, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Dakota and Texas.
  
  Drought stress remains the primary mycotoxin concern across the Plains and southern Corn Belt, where prolonged heat and below-normal rainfall continue to create conditions favorable for aflatoxin and fumonisin development. Regions receiving above-normal rainfall across the northern Plains and Great Lakes should continue monitoring for DON risk, particularly where harvest timing may be delayed by wet conditions.
  
  
  
• Spring Wheat – Spring wheat harvest reached 86%, running 3 percentage points ahead of last year and the 5-year average. With harvest nearing completion, field risk continues to decline. However, areas of the northern Plains that received above-normal precipitation should continue monitoring grain quality, particularly where crops remained exposed to late-season moisture before harvest completion. As harvest advances, 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 – Barley harvest reached 90%, running 5 percentage points ahead of last year and the 5-year average.
  
  Rapid harvest progress should help limit additional field exposure to moisture-related quality issues. However, pockets of above-normal precipitation in portions of the northern Rockies and northern Plains may still create localized DON concerns where harvest has been delayed. Continued grain testing remains advisable in regions that experienced intermittent rainfall during the final stages of maturation.

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