Fusarium is one of the key downgrading factors for Saskatchewan crops this year.

Producers who may be looking at using some poor quality grain as livestock feed will want to be careful.

Fusarium can produce mycotoxins, such as DON, that can result in a reduced immune response in the animal, as well as reduced feed consumption.

Trevor Lennox, a forage specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture, suggests getting a feed test done so you know what you have to work within a blend:

"There is a screening test they can run to test and determine which toxins are there, and there are levels of tolerance for each toxin," he said.

"It is one that you can't feed very much of."

He notes there are a number of labs, elevators, terminals and pelleted feed companies that will measure DON levels in suspect grain samples.