September 2026 Newsletter
Rapid Mycotoxin Testing Available At Spencer Ag Center
Did you know that 5-10% of annual crop losses worldwide come from mycotoxins? In order to combat this issue, mycotoxin detection and quantification can help identify contamination early to avoid issues.
“Mycotoxins known to occur in Iowa are aflatoxin, fumonisin, vomitoxin, T-2 and zearalenone. They are mostly found in grain, including corn, wheat, milo, rye, and oats. They may be found in silages or other feeds which contain grain. Since there are many kinds of mycotoxins, which differ from each other, they produce many different kinds of diseases, called mycotoxicoses. They may cause diseases of the liver, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory system, immune system, reproductive system or kidneys. Mycotoxicoses are not contagious.”
This past month, we acquired a mycotoxin rapid testing kit in order to better serve our customers.
Now that we have a rapid test to identify Aflatoxin, Fumonisin, and DON, we will be able to support our producers better. Specifically, we will be able to test silage for DON, and grains/finished feeds for Aflo/DON/Zeralenone and Fumonisin. This testing will help aid in the prevention of mycotoxicoses.
Reach out to our team if you’d like to get anything tested!
MYCOTOXINS COMMONLY FOUND IN IOWA GRAINS AND THEIR HEALTH EFFECTS
Mycotoxin | Fungal Source | Affected Grains | Favorable Production Conditions | Primary Health & Toxic Effects |
Aflatoxin (B1, B2, G1, G2) | Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus parasiticus | Corn, milo, cottonseed, peanuts | 55°F–90°F (78°F–90°F ideal), high moisture/humidity, kernel damage | Acute: Liver damage, depression, anorexia.Chronic: Poor growth, anemia, ascites, steatorrhea, liver cancer. |
Fumonisin (B1, B2, B3) | Fusarium moniliforme, Fusarium proliferatum | White & yellow corn | Drought during growth followed by cool, wet conditions during pollination | Horses: Leukoencephalomalacia (ELE). Swine: Respiratory syndrome, icterus, weight loss. Ruminants: Anorexia, mild weight loss. Poultry: Inappetence, skeletal abnormalities. |
Vomitoxin (Deoxynivalenol / DON) | Fusarium roseum | Corn, milo, wheat, rye, barley, cereal crops | Alternating cool/warm temperatures, wet period during flowering | Swine: Feed refusal, decreased weight gain. Cattle: No apparent adverse effects. |
Zearalenone | Fusarium roseum, Fusarium moniliforme | Corn, wheat, barley, milo, oats | High moisture (>22%), alternating temperatures (45°F–70°F) near harvest | Estrogenic effects (does not cause abortion): Swine: Hyperestrogenism, pseudopregnancy, male feminization & low libido. Cattle: Vaginitis, mammary enlargement. |
We’re Here for You with our Cattle Working Crew!
Did you know that Spencer Ag Center has a cattle working crew that can help your operation? Our team can bring a mobile hydraulic chute to your operation to help support
your cattle work. Our team can efficiently run cattle through the chute, effectively follow your protocols, and help with reimplanting. Working cattle with our team is a breeze! We’ve got experienced cattlemen that support Dr. Grace when she’s preg-checking and treating animals. With efficiency and excellent animal husbandry skills, our team can help alleviate the stress that comes with sourcing help to work cattle.
Call our office at (712)262-5552 to schedule the team for your next cattle working job!
Kaitlynn Lawson showing! The Lawson Family with their Reserve Champion Kaitlynn Lawson shaking the judges hand at the Northwest Iowa Showdown The Lawson Family!
Pursuing the Purple!
Congrats, Lawson Family! Kaitlynn and George Lawson, children of Angie and Casey, Purchaser at Spencer Ag Center, had a very successful month showing their hogs!
Kaitlynn and George won their respective qualifier rounds for Clay County, Iowa, and advanced to the Northwest Iowa Showdown. Kaitlynn won the Grand Champion Market Hog, and George won Reserve Champion Breeding Gilt at the Northwest Iowa Showdown. We are incredibly proud to back this family's work ethic and fuel these champions with Purple Pursuit and Spencer Ag Center feed. Their hard work and dedication are evident from their success this past month! Congratulations, Kaitlynn and George!
Celebrating our Agricultural Roots!
Spencer Ag Center is a proud sponsor of Clay County’s 175th Anniversary Exhibition put on by the Clay County Heritage Center in Spencer, Iowa. This exhibit celebrates the heritage of all the towns in Clay County as well as featuring specific sectors of Northwest Iowa’s rich history! This includes agriculture, the Clay County Fair, local railways and exports, schools, and more!
With livestock contributing so greatly to our Iowa History, we couldn’t help but jump on the bandwagon! Some of our staff and families have been able to loan artifacts and support the exhibit through “manpower” by helping stage the larger artifacts. This month, the exhibit has opened its doors to visitors! Be sure to stop by and learn about our history. This exhibit will be open from August 2026—August 2027!
GOOD LUCK TO ALL SHOWMEN AND FAMILIES ATTENDING THE CLAY COUNTY FAIR THIS MONTH!
