During Summer and Fall 2026, 95% of all corn silage samples had multiple mycotoxins, and almost every state posted corn silage samples with DON at a high-risk level. Co-exposure to more than one mycotoxin puts additional stress on animals beyond the single mycotoxin challenges. DON harms intestinal cells, allowing other mycotoxins to breach the body’s defenses. It is troubling to see the highly toxic T2/HT2 appear more consistently. Even very minor levels of T2/HT2, combined with high levels of DON, pose significant health challenges for the animal. Feeds with multiple mycotoxins at medium risk contaminations may pose greater consequences than feeds with a single mycotoxin at a high-risk concentration.

Corn silage samples from Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin were at high-risk contamination levels for DON and zearalenone during the survey period, with fumonisin averaging in the high-risk contamination level for Minnesota samples. The corn silage high-risk mycotoxin contamination levels directly translated to high TMR mycotoxin concentrations of DON and medium-risk concentrations of zearalenone. The TMR samples were also contaminated with fumonisin and T2/HT2, but at low-risk levels.

Corn silage samples in Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana continued the trend of high-risk DON contamination. The corn silage samples also contained multiple mycotoxins, with T2/HT2 and fumonisin present in these samples but at low-risk levels. Ohio corn silage samples exhibited high zearalenone contamination, but zearalenone was at a medium-risk level in Michigan and low contamination concentration in Indiana. The TMR samples in Michigan and Indiana are similar for high DON contamination, medium-risk zearalenone, and low-risk T2/HT2 and fumonisin concentrations. The Ohio TMR samples averaged a medium-risk level for DON, and low contamination concentration for zearalenone, T2/HT2 and fumonisin.

The Atlantic states, especially Virginia, exhibited a reprieve from 2024’s extremely high-mycotoxin contamination, yet samples still contained multiple mycotoxins. Corn silage from Virginia averaged in the medium-risk contamination category for aflatoxin, DON, zearalenone, and T2/HT2, and high-risk level for fumonisin. Aflatoxin was detected consistently in areas of Virginia experiencing drought-stressed corn. Corn silage in North Carolina fared better and was medium-risk levels for DON and fumonisin and low risk for zearalenone. TMR samples from North Carolina were high-risk levels for DON, indicating feed ingredients other than corn silage are sources of DON, medium-risk contributors for fumonisin and low-risk sources for zearalenone. The TMR samples from Virginia tested at medium-risk contamination concentrations for DON, zearalenone, T2/HT2, and fumonisin.

Pennsylvania and New York corn silages were contaminated at high-risk levels for DON and also contained a mixture of zearalenone at medium-risk levels and T2/HT2 at low-risk levels. Fumonisin levels were medium-risk in Pennsylvania but dropped to low-risk levels farther north into New York and the Northeast. The TMR samples throughout the Northeast followed this trend with consistent exposure to multiple mycotoxins. Compared to past years the average DON concentration is lower, now at medium-risk concentrations, but when combined with the medium-risk zearalenone and low amounts of T2/HT2 and fumonisin, care should be taken when feeding vulnerable groups of animals such as pre-fresh, fresh, and high cows.

You can depend on the DTX™ technology and phytogenics to defend and protect your cattle against the major mycotoxins whether alone or contaminating the diet in combinations.

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The mycotoxin assay summaries presented in Table 1 and 2 and Figures 1 and 2 for the 517 corn silage and 558 TMR samples collected between October 1, 2025 and April 30, 2026 indicate a high number of samples contaminated by two to four mycotoxins. The frequency of multiple mycotoxin-contaminated samples and the compounding effects supports  the regular sampling of feed ingredients and diets, as well as the adaption of time-proven and research-verified mycotoxin mitigation protection. 

Corn silage samples continue exhibiting the familiar pattern of high-risk DON contamination and medium-risk zearalenone (ZEA) levels observed in recent years. However, elevated fumonisin (FUM) levels are being detected. Samples from Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia exhibited high-risk levels of FUM, while an additional five Midwestern states reported medium-risk FUM contamination. 

The TMR contamination levels of DON were in the high-risk category for eight states and 11 states were at a high- or medium-risk level of ZEA. As expected from the corn silage FUM results, 14 states assayed low- and medium-risk levels of FUM in the TMR. More importantly than evaluating individual mycotoxin levels is to note that 11 states submitted TMR samples testing at medium- or high-risk levels for two or three mycotoxins, and Pennsylvania and Virginia assayed medium- or high-risk contamination levels for four mycotoxins. 

The presence of multiple mycotoxins exacerbates the digestive, immune, and reproductive insults of the individual mycotoxins and necessitates a proven mycotoxin mitigation program. For example, DON disrupts digestive function, ZEA reduces reproductive success by imitating estrogen, FUM accelerates leaky gut and reduces liver function, and finally T-2 earns the “assassin” nickname by killing high-turnover gut and immune cells.

The production response observed in high-producing dairy cows supplemented with DTX™ in Roth et al. (2024^a,b) occurred when diets tested at high-risk DON levels and medium-risk ZEA levels. Dairy nutritionists and producers are observing very good milk production and reproductive success outcomes when feeding DTX consuming diets with multiple mycotoxins at medium- and high-risk levels. Contact your Agrarian Solutions representative for advice on developing a mycotoxin testing program and utilizing DTX in your clients’ herds.

^aRoth, L.D., et al. 2024. J. Dairy Sci. 107(Suppl 1):426. (Abstr.)
^bRoth, L.D., et al. 2024. J. Dairy Sci. 107(Suppl 1):426. (Abstr.)

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The lingering effects of a challenging 2024 growing season were evident in the mycotoxin summaries across the US for corn silage and TMR samples from April 30, 2025 through September 30, 2025. While DON and zearalenone continue to be the primary mycotoxins in both sample types, Fumonisin is evident in the mid-Atlantic region. The mycotoxin summaries are presented in Table 1 and 2 and Figures 1 and 2 for the 248 corn silage and 354 TMR samples, respectively. 

For the past several years, DON and zearalenone contamination have been consistently high for the northeast third of the US for corn silage, and now KS and WI are testing high for DON. North Carolina, Virginia, and Pennsylvania have similar DON concentrations as the last survey, medium to high risk, but fumonisin has increased significantly in corn silage and TMR to the high risk level. 

As important as mycotoxin testing is for identifying potential challenges, the confirmation of cow performance and health is the definitive answer on the need for mycotoxin protection. The herd indicators of milk components, manure consistency, health events, and reproduction will indicate how well the cows are handling the mycotoxin load in the feed in addition to other challenge factors they are encountering. Using both the sample results and herd indicators will drive the decision determining the amount of DTX to feed. It is important to note that independent meta-analyses of Kihal et al (2022)¹ suggest that the traditional feed ingredients thought to provide mycotoxin protection are more deleterious at reducing the bioavailability of key nutrients.

Agrarian Solutions provides complimentary mycotoxin testing in feed ingredients and TMR to aid dairy producers and nutritionists in determining the correct amount of DTX is fed to support performance. Contact your Agrarian representative for assistance testing feeds and analyzing test results throughout the year. 

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