Texas corn farmers can now purchase FourSureTM
Texas Corn Producers (TCP) is excited to announce the availability of FourSureTM to mitigate the impact of aflatoxin on corn acres in the state of Texas. Texas farmers can locate distributors and learn more about this next generation atoxigenic at FourSureTX.com.
FourSure received its registration for use on corn in Texas through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in fall 2023. This tool contains four strains of Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus), whereas comparable products currently on the market contain one strain. FourSure’s multi-pronged approach to prevent aflatoxin development has the potential to secure corn farmers’ investment in their crop – preventing considerable loss due to aflatoxin contamination.
TCP began dedicating checkoff funds to research seeking to identify strands of A. flavus naturally occurring in Texas corn crops in 2010. Taking in more than 800 samples, subsequent years’ of research aimed to identify beneficial strains capable of mitigating aflatoxin. Research found four strong Texas-based strains, which led to TCP’s FourSure.
An Experimental Use Permit (EUP) from the EPA was obtained In August of 2016, for the 2017-2019 growing seasons. Through this permit, TCP worked in cooperation with farmer cooperators and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to collect data through field trials. FourSure was tested on approximately 3,000 acres from the Lower Rio Grande Valley to the Red River before receiving its EPA Section 3 registration.
“FourSure is a premier example of the checkoff positively at work,” TCPB Executive Director David Gibson said. “Farmers know the problems facing their operations and have the vision to find solutions. Having the ability to make investments in major innovations such as FourSure highlight the value of farmer-led checkoff endeavors.”
Visit FourSureTX.com for complete details about FourSure. Find out more about the latest in TCP’s research efforts such as FourSure online, as well as its education, promotion, and advocacy initiatives at www.TexasCorn.org.
