A practical guide to preparing storage before harvest — covering grain hygiene, structural treatments, fumigation and phosphine resistance, gas-tight sealing standards, and the respiratory protection needed to handle phosphine safely.
Chris Warrick and Sudhan Shah walk through every on-farm storage option (bags, bunkers, pits, rings, sheds and silos), what each one suits, how to keep pests out, and what they actually cost per tonne.
The GRDC Grain Storage Extension Team are often asked what tools and equipment aid grain storage management and where they can be sourced. This catalogue is a reference of useful equipment with examples of where they can be sourced.
Use this Excel template in conjunction with Section 2 of the GRDC Grain Storage GrowNote to calculate if on-farm storage might work for you. The
.Safe Work Australia announced changes to Worker Exposure Limits for airborne contaminants, affective December 2026. This article aims to provide the latest information available to manage phosphine use in compliance with the new limits.
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.
When is the best time to fumigate stored grain? Ben White and Chris Warrick from GRDC’s Grain Storage team discuss three common fumigation timing strategies: pre-emptive fumigation after harvest, fumigation on insect detection, and calendar-based fumigation. Learn why gas-tight, pressure-tested silos are essential, how aeration cooling can improve storage outcomes, and how to balance fumigation timing with grain quality, market requirements, and buyer specifications.
Successful grain storage requires an essential grain fumigation process to achieve effective insect control and help prevent phosphine resistance in stored grain. Ben White and Chris Warrick from GRDC’s Grain Storage team explain best-practice phosphine fumigation, including the importance of gas-tight, pressure-tested silos, correct phosphine dosage calculations, exposure periods, residue management, ventilation requirements, and withholding periods. Whether you’re managing wheat storage, grain silos, or on-farm grain storage facilities, this practical guide provides valuable advice for successful grain fumigation, stored grain pest management, and maintaining grain quality.