Grain storage specialist Chris Warrick explains, as a structural treatment for empty grain storages, DE (Diatomaceous Earth) is far more effective than lime.
Grain storage specialist Ben White demonstrates how to select and maintain oil in pressure relief valves on sealable grain silos.
Grain storage specialists Chris Warrick and Ben White explain the recommended application of diatomaceous earth to empty grain storage facilities for stored grain insect management.
Can Diatomaceous Earth (DE) dust be applied in sheds using leaf blowers and achieve adequate surface coverage? This trial found that with fine-tuned application techniques, coverage extended to all areas within the shed, meeting the intended objective.
This GRDC Back Pocket Guide is a practical field reference designed to help growers, grain handlers and storage managers quickly identify and manage common stored grain pests found in Australia. The guide provides clear photographs and easy-to-follow descriptions of major insect pests affecting stored grain, pulses and processed grain products, helping users recognise pests early before infestations become serious.
This article outlines best practice for determining when to fumigate stored grain, highlighting the importance of cooling, monitoring, and gas-tight storage. It explains the risks of fumigating too early, relying on calendar-based treatments, and poor sealing, while reinforcing that effective fumigation depends on correct timing, temperature, and exposure periods.
The stored grain extension team have put together some key resources on setting up and storing grain in bunkers. Rather than re-invent the wheel, useful information resources from commercial suppliers of bunker tarps and equipment has been included.
Appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is essential for health and safety when fumigating with phosphine.
The phosphine label mandates the use of a full-face respirator with a combination particulate (P1) and phosphine gas cartridge filter along with elbow-length rubber gloves to comply with label requirements.
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.
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.