A mold that can develop on corn has a government agency requiring testing on milk. Alfatoxin is a mold that grows on corn kernels and thrives on dry and hot conditions during pollination, like we experienced this year.

According to Dan Loy, with the Iowa Beef Center, there is a zero tolerance policy for aflatoxin in human food as it’s a known carcinogen.

If the mold is in dairy feed it can transfer to the cow’s milk, prompting the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to require aflatoxin screening and testing received in Iowa beginning today and continuing indefinitely. Loy adds that while aflatoxin can transfer to milk, it isn’t a concern for beef.