Here’s an
interesting story in this weeks All About Feed publication.
The Belgium
feed industry, who systematically monitor raw materials for the presence of mycotoxins,
found that out of 498 post-harvest grain samples tested, 64% contained at least
one mycotoxin above the limit of detection.
In the 2015 the
result was 34% and in 2014 this was 48%.
The Belgian
Compound Feed Industry Association who conducted the survey say the
increase in contamination level in this year’s harvest is the result of less
favourable growth circumstances by which I think they mean it was wet.
Bearing in
mind Belgium farmers achieve some top wheat yields and don’t hold back on
fungicides, perhaps it indicates a quality issue currently sitting in bunkers
across Europe and beyond.
I know for a
fact Ukraine and Russian wheat receives next to no fungicides by comparison and
it’s been a wet growing season there.
Also worth
keeping in mind this survey only tested post-harvest contamination levels and mycotoxin
contamination can increase during storage.