Author: Chris Warrick

Dust masks and eye protection: Grain storage safety essentials

Dust exposure is a common but often overlooked safety risk in grain storage operations. Watch as Chris Warrick and Ben White from the GRDC Grain Storage Extension Team discuss the importance of choosing the right dust masks, respirators, and eye protection when working around grain storages, silos, and sheds. Learn when to use P2 and P3 dust masks, the benefits of full-face respirators, and how sealed safety goggles help protect against airborne dust during grain handling, storage cleaning, and compressed air use.

Home made venturi for DE application with leaf blower

Grain storage specialists Chris Warrick and Ben White show how a homemade venturi attachment can be used with a leaf blower to apply diatomaceous earth.

application Blower de Diatomaceous earth dust home made pvc sheds venturi

Diatomaceous Earth application in sheds and silos

Learn how to apply Diatomaceous Earth (DE) for effective grain storage hygiene in silos, flat-bottom silos, and grain sheds with Ben White and Chris Warrick from the GRDC grain storage extension team. They demonstrate practical DE application methods using leaf blowers, homemade venturi systems, PVC fittings, and traditional blowback guns. Discover how to achieve even DE distribution, calculate the correct application rate, improve insect control in stored grain facilities, and safely treat storage structures with proper PPE.

application Blower de Diatomaceous earth dust sheds

Research Guides Growers Investing in Grain Storage Aeration

A recent study by the GRDC National Grain Storage Extension Team highlights a vital insight: relying on theoretical models for aeration fan performance isn’t enough — real-world testing is critical. Research involving backpressure and flow testing showed that fans with identical motor specifications performed very differently under typical storage conditions. In practical terms, at a backpressure of around 300 pascals (a level you’d encounter in around 100 tonnes of grain), airflow varied dramatically—from just 120 liters per second to as much as 360 L/s—depending solely on the fan’s impeller and housing design.

Aeration Back Pressure fan grains Research

Diatomaceous earth: a blow-by-blow study

Research from the GRDC Grain Storage Extension team has revealed a safer and more effective way to apply diatomaceous earth (DE) in empty on-farm silos. DE, a flour-like dust made from fossilised aquatic organisms, works as a non-chemical control by dehydrating insects through abrasions to their waxy coating.

blo-vac Blower de Diatomaceous earth dust structural treatment

Making the most of ageing silos

As silos age, growers face a crucial decision: repair, retrofit, or replace. The first step is always safety. Grain Storage Specialist Chris Warrick advises that growers begin by checking whether the silo is structurally sound. Cracked or tilted bases, rust on critical joints, or weakened bolts and sheets can all compromise safety and increase the risk of collapse. Faulty hatches, ladders, and access points also need to be addressed to protect workers.

ageing old retrofitting Safety Silo

Correct storage edging towards the norm

Australian growers are steadily lifting the standard of on-farm grain storage. In the past 15 years, average capacity has almost tripled – from about 850 tonnes in 2009 to more than 2450 tonnes in 2024. This growth reflects the importance of storage as part of the farming business model: capturing market premiums, smoothing harvest logistics, and safeguarding grain quality.

correct storage Kondinin Group Storage survey

Fumigant resistance: small victories in an unrelenting battle

As insect resistance to phosphine continues to climb across both on-farm and bulk storage, growers face a constant challenge: how to slow resistance while protecting grain quality and market access. Recent GRDC-supported resistance monitoring shows a slight dip in strong phosphine resistance this year, but the overall national trend remains upward, with about 30 per cent of pests now showing strong resistance—well above the 10–15 per cent level considered manageable.

Fumigant phosphine Resistance

Changing storage practices may lead to an improved falling number

New research supported by GRDC and led by Agriculture Victoria scientists Dr Cassandra Walker and Dr Pankaj Maharjan suggests that on-farm storage practices may play a role in lifting the falling number of wheat after harvest. Their work showed that wheat samples with a moderate falling number (200–300 seconds) could increase by up to 50 seconds during 24 weeks of storage, often moving them above the key 300-second benchmark. High-range samples above 400 seconds continued to improve until plateauing at around 36 weeks, while low-range samples showed little change.

Aeration AgVic falling number Weather Damage Wheat

Kondinin Group Sealable Storage Report

The latest Kondinin Group sealable storage report is here! Building on the 2022 review of grain silos, this updated report provides fresh insights, performance comparisons, and practical guidance for growers considering on-farm storage options.

The new findings highlight key changes in silo performance, sealing effectiveness, and best-practice recommendations to help growers make informed decisions when investing in grain storage infrastructure.

2022 australian standard feb grain silos Grain Storage groundcover jan pictorial