Key points
– Strong resistance to phosphine in stored grain insects has both increased and spread over the past decade, with more detections in eastern Australia than Western Australia
– Misuse of phosphine, particularly in unsealed storages, appears to be the main reason for the development of strong resistance
Key points
– Testing phosphine residue in trucks at receival sites is required for operator safety and label compliance
– Sampling and testing methods require further research and development to avoid penalising those doing the right thing
– Using a phosphine meter on farm is the surest way to avoid truckloads being rejected
Key message
– Ground-level fumigation systems are safer for users, but phosphine can be explosive, so precautions are needed to ensure a safe and effective fumigation.
Phosphine fumigation can now be completed using ground-level application systems, which are much safer as the user does not need to climb to the top of the silo. But some key features and precautions are needed for successful and safe fumigation:
– recirculation;
– space for liberation;
– condensation trap; and
– pressure relief for power outage.
Download the GRDC Ground Cover Supplement on Grain Storage from Jan-Feb 2022.
Key points
– Successful pest control in storages depends on combining regular grain monitoring, good hygiene, aeration cooling and correct fumigation practices
– Fumigation results rely on a gas-tight sealable storage to achieve the required gas concentrations and exposure times (C x T) to kill all insect pest life stages
– In larger silos (150 to 2000 tonnes) recirculating gases using a small fan during the fumigation ensures rapid, uniform distribution of phosphine gas
Grain Storage Specialist Ben White demonstrates how to do a pressure test to ensure silos meet the Australian Standard 2628 -2010 for gas-tight sealing.
Grain storage specialist Chris Warrick presents a webinar on how to perform successful and reliable fumigations with phosphine on farm Pressure testing sealable silos Fumigating
Grain storage specialist Chris Warrick presents a webinar on why and how to pressure test on-farm grain storage Pressure testing sealable silos Pressure Testing Sealed
Grain storage specialist Chris Warrick presents a webinar on efficient monitoring and insect identification
Grain storage specialist Chris Warrick presents a webinar on aeration cooling