Farmers caught between a rock and hard place at harvest might feel a bit better knowing a plant pathologist and a diagnostic toxicologist have their backs.

Plant scientist Tamra Jackson and livestock counterpart Michael Carlson are teaming up at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to help get both grain and livestock farmers through a soggy situation in which ear rot and fungus-related mycotoxins could become significant problems.

One reason for heightened vigilance is a possible proliferation of vomitoxin, so named because it typically causes hogs to lose their lunch.

Jackson sees no crisis in the making so far, but weeks of rain and overcast skies have her attention.

"Right now," she said Tuesday, "we really don't have that much evidence that any mycotoxins are a problem. What we have evidence of is ear rot diseases, and there are more ear rot diseases this year than past years because of the weather."

Carlson, who also is an analytical chemist, said it's much too early to assume the worst about mycotoxin contamination of corn. In fact, the slow pace of harvest means it's too early to assume much of anything.

As a matter of how much corn might be suspect, "we don't know," he said. "We flat out don't know."

What Carlson does know is the Food and Drug Administration has rules for feeding contaminated corn to cattle, hogs and other livestock.

"If the mycotoxin is present at high enough concentrations that the FDA would consider it to be adulterated feed under their guidelines, then it's illegal to blend that feed to get that concentration down below the guidelines and offer it for commerce."

Jackson conceded farmers were already in a tough spot before worries about ear rot got in the mix.

"They're at war right now with weather conditions," she said, "and they want to let the corn dry further. But they're racing against the clock to get it out."

Depending on where things go from here, there could be much more farmers will want to know about mold, mycotoxins and related issues.

For example, molds that aren't destroyed by drying continue to grow in the bin. And hogs that eat vomitoxin-contaminated corn don't die.

"What it does is decrease the performance of the animal," Carlson said.

Jackson said farmers with questions should contact the university's agricultural Extension agents at the county level as a first step toward answers.

Reach Art Hovey at 473-7223 or at ahovey@journalstar.com.