Grain store cleaning tips

With most stores now empty and harvest looming, attention must turn to the grain store. Good storage practice minimises risk of crop quality and premium losses after the hard work has been done growing the crop out in the field.

The key to safe storage is having an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach. It starts with store hygiene, removing all debris from the previous year as soon as the grain has been moved. Monitoring should then take place, placing insect floor traps in corners and along walls every 4-5 metres, checking weekly for common primary pests such as the Grain Weevil, Flour Mite, Saw-toothed and Rust-red beetle. Please see the attached picture for more pest species identification.

If pests have been detected, increase the number of traps to determine the extent of the infestation and consider the need for treatment based on the results. Consider the market and end of use of grain before applying a chemical control.

Fortunately, we have a range of chemical approaches including, K-Obiol (Deltamethrin), Actellic Smoke (Pirimiphos-methyl) and Talisma (Cypermethrin and Piperonyl Butoxide).

The program should start with K-Obiol pre harvest, which can be applied to the crop handling equipment and storage structures through a knapsack with a low-pressure nozzle using a medium to course spray. Monitor after application using the floor traps. If the desired control was not achieved, or additional control is required, an application of Actellic Smokes should be considered but only used after an insecticidal spray treatment.

Monitoring should continue up until harvest to ensure there is not a reinfection. 

We also have stored grain options, such as Talisma which can be applied to the grain in line with label recommendations after harvest. This is your last resort and prevention is better than cure, so having a IPM approach based around storage hygiene and monitoring should be your foundation. 

If you need any further advice, or wish to purchase the products mentioned, call our team today on 01243 784171 or email info@bartholomews.co.uk

Credit: AHDB