A practical reference featuring useful tools and equipment for managing on-farm grain storage, including monitoring, fumigation, safety, pressure testing and sealing equipment.

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GRDC Grain Storage GrowNotes

GRDC Grain Storage Extension Team (FREE)

A practical manual on how to manage on-farm grain storage. Content includes chapters on planning and purchasing, economics, safety, insect pest identification, insect pest prevention, managing insect pests with fumigation, managing high-moisture grain. The manual includes QR codes for further information resources including how-to video guides. 

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Any recommendations, suggestions or opinions contained in this publication do not necessarily represent the policy or views of the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) or Primary Business. No person should act on the basis of the contents of this publication without first obtaining specific, independent, professional advice. Primary Business and GRDC and contributors to this catalogue may identify products by proprietary or trade names to help readers identify particular types of products. We do not endorse or recommend the products of any manufacturer referred to. Other products may perform as well as or better than those specifically referred to. GRDC and Primary Business will not be liable for any loss, damage, cost or expense incurred or arising by reason of any person using or relying on the information in this publication. Prices are indicative only and were current at the time of publication. Readers should confirm current pricing, availability and suitability with suppliers. Users must follow relevant product label directions, safety data sheets (SDS) and workplace health and safety requirements when selecting and using equipment.

DE application equipment

Venturi dust applicator for 18 V blower

An 18 V battery blower with a homemade venturi attachment is a simple and effective tool for applying diatomaceous earth (DE) in silos. The venturi can be made to fit any blower, typically 50 mm PVC ‘Y’ fitting and short pipe suits most 18 V blowers. The suction pipe should be approximately half the diameter of the delivery pipe, with both ends cut on a 45 degree angle to aid suction and fitted into a reducer flange with tape if required. Adjusting how far the suction pipe protrudes into the airstream inside the ‘Y’ fitting changes the balance of suction and delivery distance.

PRICE:
Approximately $25 plus a blower
SUPPLIERS:
Hardware or plumbing stores

Fittings list from Bunnings to make at home:

• I/N: 4770366 – 50 mm 45° female/female PVC
DWV plain junction
• I/N: 4770456 – 50 x 40 mm puddle flange adaptor
• I/N: 4770087 – 50 mm x 1 m PVC DWV pipe
• I/N: 4331312 – 2 mm x 2 m medium duty
rigid conduit
• I/N: 0381083 – 20 m 18 mm insulation PVC tape

Venturi dust applicator fo 36 V or petrol blower

Following the same principle and steps to make the smaller venturi, the larger one to fit more powerful 36 V or petrol blowers is ideal for applying diatomaceous earth (DE) in flat bottom silos and grain sheds. The adjustment of the suction pipe into the airstream inside the ‘Y’ fitting is sensitive to how far the DE dust can be propelled to reach to the roof of large silos and sheds.
 
PRICE:
Approximately $40 plus a blower
SUPPLIERS:
Hardware or plumbing stores
 

Venturi gun (Blow-vac)

A venturi gun, commonly known by the brand name ‘Blow vac’ is traditionally used for applying diatomaceous earth dust into silos. It relies on connection to an air compressor and can be reversed for suction to use during cleanout.
 
PRICE:
Approximately $30-$150
SUPPLIERS:
Total tools, Blackwoods,
air tool shops

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

Full face respirator with combined dust and inorganic gas filter

A full-face respirator with a combined dust and inorganic gas filter is required for handling phosphine. This includes when applying phosphine into storages, removing and deactivating liberated residue, when working in close proximity to a storage during the venting phase or when taking gas concentration measurements.
 
PRICE:
Approximately $200-$600
SUPPLIERS:
Dräger, MSA Safety, Sundström, 3M

Elbow length PVC gloves

Elbow length PVC gloves are durable, chemical-resistant protective gloves made from polyvinyl chloride that extend to the elbow, providing a waterproof barrier to protect hands and forearms from liquid, chemical, fumigants, and contamination during handling or mixing tasks.
 
PRICE:
Approximately $4-$10
SUPPLIERS:
Hardware or safety supply stores.

Dust mask and safety goggles

Pro Goggle and P2 Respirator Combo are designed for use in
environments where both eye and respiratory protection are required.
 
PRICE:
Approximately $60
SUPPLIERS:
Total Tools, Hip Pocket Workwear & Safety

Fall arrest harness

Fall arrest harnesses are used when working at heights such as on silos, sheds, elevated walkways or elevated platform equipment. The harness should be coupled with an energy absorbing lanyard with two scaffold hooks. A short adjustable lanyard or pole strap can also be useful when both hands are required for a task in a fixed position.
 
PRICE:
Approximately $250-$1000
SUPPLIERS:
Hardware, tool or safety supply stores

Ear, eye and respiratory protection Safety signage

Dust masks P1 or P2, safety goggles and earmuffs or earplugs are often required around grain storages. Examples include during cleanout, application of diatomaceous earth structural treatment and when in loading or out loading grain. Fit is important as well as storing in a readily available place where they won’t get damaged.
 
PRICE:
Approximately $250-$1000
SUPPLIERS:
Hardware, tool or safety supply stores

Safety signage

Safety signage can warn, inform and restrict access to hazards or controlled areas. This can include grain storages under fumigation, or where particular PPE and/or protocols are required to enter or operate storages or equipment.
 
PRICE:
Approximately $10-$100
SUPPLIERS:
Safety Signs or safety supply stores

Bunting, danger tape and cones

Safety signage and bunting are visual safety controls used to warn or restrict access to storages under fumigation or provide warning of hazards.
 
PRICE:
Approximately $5-$50
SUPPLIERS:
Hardware or safety supply stores

Monitoring Equipment

Stainless steel temperature probe and digital read out

A temperature probe is used to monitor grain temperature deep below the surface or through small port holes in tarps, bags or silo walls. These probes need to be left in for up to 20-30 minutes before the stainless steel equalises with the grain temperature.
 
PRICE:
Approximately $250-$380
SUPPLIERS:
Graintec Scientific,
Instrument Choice, Kotzur

Insect probe trap

A probe trap is inserted into grain in storage to detect insect infestations. During monitoring, the trap is removed, the bottom cone unscrewed and the contents inspected for insects that have been caught while crawling through the grain. Secure with a cord inside silos in case removal is forgotten before out-loading grain.
 
PRICE:
Approximately $30-40
SUPPLIERS:
Graintec Scientific, Bugs For Bugs

Thermometer mounted to 1 m PVC pipe

A low-cost form of monitoring grain
temperature is a digital thermometer
mounted to a 1 m PVC pipe. They are
cheap enough that one can be placed in each storage beside the probe trap. Secure with a cord inside silos in case removal is forgotten before out-loading grain. Search online stores for ‘thermometer with probe’.
 
PRICE:
Approximately $10-$20
SUPPLIERS:
Electronics stores, online shopping sites

Insect sieve (2 mm mesh) and drop tray

An insect sieve and tray are used to separate grain pests from a sample for identification. Two of the common grain pests, lesser grain borer and flat grain beetle tend to hide in grain so can be difficult to detect unless shaken through a sieve. Similar products can be found on online shopping sites, ensure they have 2 mm mesh and couple with a collection tray or buy a cake pan to match the sieve size.
 
PRICE:
Approximately $70-$220
SUPPLIERS:
Graintec Scientific, Kotzur,
online shopping sites

Fixed temperature and moisture cable sensor systems

Cables installed from top to bottom of silos have integrated sensors to provide temperature and relative humidity (converted to grain moisture content) through the grain depth. One or more cables can be installed per silo and connected to a cloud dashboard or mobile application via local area network or cellular depending on number of silos and location. Before purchasing, ensure the manufacturer guarantees the sensors will survive a phosphine fumigation in Australia
 
PRICE:
Variable
SUPPLIERS:
Harveston OPI,
Harberger Bin Manager

Remote temperature monitoring probe

Remote temperature and humidity probes areavailable from several suppliers. These probes rely on satellite, cellular or a local area network to transmit readings to a cloud based dashboard, accessed via a mobile application or website. They can be used in bags, bunkers or via ports through silo walls. Some models rely on battery while others are solar powered, which may dictate positioning. Expect to pay $1000 plus, depending on quantity and connectivity, and clarify if a subscription is required to access remotely logged data.
 
PRICE:
Approximately $1000 +
SUPPLIERS:
Wiagro, UPL TeleSense,
Control Unlimited GrainWatch,
FarmScan Quanturi

Pressure testing and sealing equipment

Fittings for pressure testing silos with 18 V blower

Pressurising silos to measure the half-life can be done with an 18 V blower. A few pipe fittings that connect to the recirculation plumbing on the silo, plus a tap, make the process a lot easier. The fittings can be made in various ways and to suit what’s already on the silos. Examples pictured include a 50 mm tap or whatever size fits the blower outlet, this is to seal the silo once the target pressure is reached. The tap can be threaded onto a cam-lock, a PVC access cap or proprietary recirculation cap which has been fitted with a tank outlet or PVC flange and male threaded iron adaptor.
 
Common fittings options from Bunnings:
• I/N: 4814217 – 2” or 50 mm FI x FI ball valve
• I/N: 4770362 – 100 mm PVC threaded access cap
(Check size on silos)
• I/N: 4750173 – 50 mm PVC DWV floor flange
• I/N: 4750158 – 50 mm PVC DWV male threaded
• I/N: 4814055 – 2” Tank Outlet
• I/N: 0154038 – 2” Poly Camlock
• Thread tape and PVC Glue
 
PRICE:
Approximately $90-155
SUPPLIERS:
Hardware or plumbing stores

Pressurised handheld sprayer or spray bottle

Filled with soapy water, a pressurised sprayer or spray bottle can be used to check for leaks while pressure testing gas-tight sealable silos. When silos fail to meet the half-life pressure test, repressurise and squirt soapy water around the seals on the silo openings, plumbing and joins. Air leaking from the silo will cause the soapy water to bubble, identifying the points that require further work to seal.
 
PRICE:
Approximately $5-$30
SUPPLIERS:
Hardware, tool or
automotive stores

Pressure relief valve (oil bath) 50 mm (Grain Guard)

The pressure relief valve(s) on gas-tight sealable storages serve two purposes. They relieve air pressure as it increases or decreases more than 500 Pa during rising and falling ambient temperature. The second purpose is to measure a half-life pressure test to check the storages sealability for fumigation. On occasion the relief valves need replacing due to sun damage or breakage, or topped up to the level mark with light oil such as hydraulic oil.
 
PRICE:
Approximately $220
SUPPLIERS:
Kotzur

Sealing products

Grain storages like any farm equipment require maintenance, including the seals to remain gas tight during fumigation. Replacement seals for silo openings are often found in hardware or automotive stores. Look for closed cell, foam rubber with strong memory, they can be self-adhesive or glued in place.
 
For larger gaps or openings with a lot of variation in the seal gap, ‘D’ profile seals are a good option. Re-sealing flat bottom silo walls to the concrete base can be done with flexible compounds such as Glo-mastic, after applying a primer such as Sealer ‘A’. Small holes in bunker tarps can be repaired with specialised tape such as EnduraBond.
 
PRICE:
Varies
SUPPLIERS:
Grain Protect, Clark Rubber, hardware stores,
automotive stores, silo manufacturers, tarp suppliers

Differential pressure gauge

A differential pressure gauge is used for measuring
the half-life pressure test for gas-tight sealable
storages when the oil relief valve is not easily visible
or greater precision is required. Connected to the
storage via a tubeless tyre valve with centre removed,
250 Pa is equivalent to 25 mm water gauge meaning
125 Pa is the half-life point to stop the timer. Expect to pay $200-250 for a genuine 0-250 Pa Dwyer Magnehelic or half that price for a copy brand such as Magrfhelic from online shopping stores.
 
PRICE:
Approximately $100-250
SUPPLIERS:
Instrument Choice, Dwyer
Instruments, DG Instruments,
online shopping stores

Phosphine monitoring equipment

Hi-range phosphine fumigation meters

Hi range phosphine meters are used measuring gas concentration during fumigation, particularly in bunkers and bags where a pressure test to check the seal prior to fumigation is not possible. While these meters measure 0-2000 parts per million (ppm), they are not precise at low range so can not be relied on for venting clearance or safety. The Canary Co Silo-Chek, Control Equipment FumiTest and Uniphos FumiSense Pro-Lo are single gas meters with an inbuilt pump to draw a sample from a storage via a gas line. The Dräger X-am 5000 is a multi-gas meter that can be equipped at the time of purchase with either a high range or low range sensor (not both) and requires coupling to an external pump to draw a sample from a storage.
 
PRICE:
Approximately $3000-5000
SUPPLIERS:
Grain Protect, Canary Co,
Control Equipment, Uniphos,
Graintec Scientific

Low range phosphine meters

Low range phosphine meters measure phosphine concentrations accurately in a range between 0-20 ppm for venting clearance or personal safety. Single gas monitors such as the Dräger Pac 8000 and Riken SC-04 can be clipped onto an operator’s shirt for personal safety, or purchased with a cradle (calibration clip), hand pump and spear to measure low level, intergranular gas concentration. Multi gas monitors such as the Dräger X-am 5000 and the Riken GX-3R can be clipped onto an operator’s shirt for personal safety or coupled with and external pump to draw a sample from a gas line to measure low level, intergranular gas concentration. Note that the X-am 5000 can be equipped at the time of purchase with either a low range sensor or a high range sensor, not both. The Canary Co Silo-Safe and the Uniphos FumiSense Pro-Lo both have inbuilt pumps to draw a sample from a gas line and while the FumiSense is claimed to be wearable the Silo-Safe is not.
 
PRICE:
Approximately $800-5000
SUPPLIERS:
Grain Protect, Canary Co, Control
Equipment, Uniphos, Graintec Scientific

Grain bag Fumigation

Grain bag PVC fumigation and vent pipes

Fumigating grain bags with phosphine requires a method to introduce the gas at 7 m intervals, then an option to remove the residue and leave the bag open to vent. Although a lengthy process compared to venting with a suction fan, these PVC pipes have proven successful at venting phosphine or sulfuryl fluoride after fumigation. The pipes can be made from 50 mm PVC pipe, cut to 1 m lengths with slots cut in to enable gas/air transfer without grain getting through. A vent cone is glued to one end to form the point and a floor flange glued about 100 mm from the other end to enable sealing to the bag. The internal tray for phosphine tablet insertion and retrieval is made by gluing a push cap on both ends of a 950 mm length of 40 mm PVC pipe before cutting in half longways to make two trays that slide inside the 50 mm pipe. A 50 mm push cap is used to seal the pipe during fumigation and a 45 degree elbow to keep rain out during venting. Make enough pipes to be inserted at 7 m intervals along the bag, for as many bags that will be under fumigation or venting at the same time.
 
Fittings list from Bunnings to make at home:
• I/N: 4770087 – 50 mm x 1 m PVC DWV pipe
• I/N: 4750173 – 50 mm PVC DWV floor flange
• I/N: 4750195 – 50 mm PVC vent cowl
• I/N: 4750164 – 50 mm PVC DWV push on cap
• I/N: 4755786 – 50 mm 45° female and female PVC DWV plain bend
• I/N: 4770086 – 40 mm x 1 m PVC DWV pipe
• I/N: 4750163 – 40 mm PVC DWV push-on cap
 
PRICE:
Approximately $45-$80
SUPPLIERS:
Hardware or plumbing supply stores