Chris Warrick and Sudhan Shah presented at the GRDC Farm Business Update online in October 2026, covering the full range of on-farm storage options, what each one suits, and how to keep grain in condition once it is in store.
What the session covers
- Storage options — grain bags, bunkers, pits, grain rings, sheds, and cone and flat bottom silos, with what each is best suited to and what to weigh up before committing.
- Pest prevention and control — hygiene, structural treatments, protectants and aeration cooling, and your options once pests are already in the grain.
- Phosphine resistance — the latest resistance trends across the northern, southern and western regions, and what they mean for fumigation.
- Sealing and fumigation — the difference between sealed, semi-sealed and gas-tight, and why every setup needs a fumigation option.
- Protectants — which products work against which pests, withholding periods, and why even coverage matters.
- The economics — start with the purpose, not the cost, and what each storage type costs per tonne.
Key points
- Know the limitations of each storage option.
- Prepare for temporary storage before harvest.
- Site selection and earthworks are crucial.
- Plan for pest prevention and control.
- Start with the purpose, not the cost.
More information
- GRDC GrowNotes Grain Storage — https://storedgrain.com.au/grdc-grownotes-grain-storage/
- Grain storage management equipment catalogue — https://storedgrain.com.au/grain-storage-management-equipment/
- Current guide for phosphine fumigation — https://storedgrain.com.au/the-current-guide-for-phosphine-fumigation/
- Grain storage cost considerations — https://storedgrain.com.au/grain-storage-cost-considerations/
- Cost benefit analysis template — https://storedgrain.com.au/cost-benefit-template/
