Protection Assured

Know the key pests:

Remove insect food sources and control the base insect population. Good hygiene is critical to reducing the overall potential insect burden.

• Clean up old bags and points of insect harbourage. 
• Clean up old grain residues that accumulate in and around storages.
• Remove all dust and grain residues before applying a structural treatment. 
• Ensure out-loading augers and aeration ducts are clean. Apply Dryacide® internally, focusing on zones that are hard to clean.

Prepare the grain protectant spray application and augering systems.

The position of the spray line nozzle can vary on the equipment, determined primarily on the auger barrel length. If the nozzle is too close to the hopper on longer augers, it can create too much drag and affect elevator output. 

The nozzle must be positioned to allow suitable coverage and mixing as the flyting lifts the grain up and into the storage. The nozzle location must allow ease of access to check for spray pattern and nozzle blockages which can occur in the presence of grain dust, as well as calibration checks.

Apply the grain protectant ensuring all grain is protected.

Effective application of grain protectants relies on the even distribution of a very small amount of pesticide throughout the entire grain mass. Uneven distribution may leave pockets or layers of unprotected grain where insect infestation may occur. Always use an auger when applying Conserve Plus. Corteva Agriscience does not support the use of tubeveyors, due to poor mixing/coverage issues.

Once the grain protectant has been applied:

• Record the details of the grain protectant application. In most states, it is a legal requirement to keep a detailed record of all pesticide applications: when applied, with what product and rate, to what commodity. This record will aid the completion of the CVD when the commodity is sold and out-turned. 
• Clean the application and elevation equipment after use. This is an important step, particularly if grains such as PRF cereals, canola or pulses are to be stored or elevated using the same equipment, as they may pick up unwanted traces of pesticides applied as they are elevated or transferred.

Manipulate the storage environmental to limit or prevent insect reproduction. Cool and dry environments are least favourable for storage insects, as evidenced in the table to the right.

• Aerate the grain. Aeration is an important tool to reduce grain temperature, helping to reduce pest numbers and maintain grain quality. Aerators should be switched on when filling the silo once the air ducts have been covered. An automatic controller will provide the most reliable results. Aim for a grain temperature of 20°C in summer and less than 15°C in winter. 
• Reduce the grain moisture. Grain moistures above 12% combined with 30°C temperatures provide ideal conditions for insect development. Higher grain moisture in storage significantly increases the risk of moulds or mycotoxins forming on some commodities. The stockfeed processing sector places a strong focus on checking cereal grains at delivery to detect mycotoxins or moulds, which can have a serious animal health impact in processed feeds. 
• Monitor the storage. Stored grain should be inspected at least once a month. Take a grain sample from the silo base, and if safe, from the top grain peak. A bucket, insect sieve, sticky tape, magnifying glass, pest identification photos and a grain probe are all valuable tools for inspecting grain. When sampling, smell the grain and look at the grain surface for any signs of insect or moisture damage. If storage pests are found, keep a sample and identify them. Seek advice and take appropriate action (e.g. fumigation in a gas-tight storage.)