National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) member Danny Willingham and staff visited senate and government agency offices this week encouraging inclusion of funding for mycotoxin research in the Senate agriculture appropriations bill. Pictured left to right: Tate Izlar, NCGA legislation assistant; Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.); NCGA grower Danny Willingham; and Lisa Kelley, NCGA director of public policy.

NCGA’s Willingham Encourages Funding for Mycotoxin Research (6-16-06)

National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Mycotoxin Task Force member Danny Willingham and NCGA staff met with several senators and their staffs this week in Washington, D.C., including Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), seeking an increase in aflatoxin research dollars. Willingham also met with Gale Buchanan, U.S. Department of Agriculture under secretary for research, education and economics.

“It’s important to let congressional members know that research is critical to prevent and eventually eliminate aflatoxin,” said Willingham. “Increased funding will be critical to this continued research.”

Corn growers and other members of the Multi-crop Aflatoxin Elimination Working Group are seeking $1.25 million in federal funding to support the “Pre-harvest Elimination of Aflatoxin” project administered by the Agriculture Research Service. The Multi-crop Aflatoxin Working Group consists of members from corn, cotton, peanuts and tree nuts.

The House recently passed its Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies appropriations spending bill, which included an increase in funding for the Agriculture Research Service to conduct pre-harvest control of aflatoxin research. The House Appropriations Committee recommended $838,237 for Pre-harvest Control of Aflatoxin, an increase from the $742,500 FY 2006 funding level.

The Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee is expected to mark up its FY 2007 Agricultural Appropriations bill early next week.

Aflatoxin is produced by the Aspergillus family of molds, and is most prevalent in corn, cotton, peanuts and tree nuts. It can be caused by several vectors, but is most commonly related to drought-stressed corn followed by periods of high humidity. While aflatoxin is most common in the South, northern corn growers also experience aflatoxin infestations.  For example, drought conditions experienced in 2005 in parts of Missouri, Illinois and Iowa created an environment conducive for aflatoxin.