GRDC GrowNotes Grain Storage
Grain storage management equipment – dupe
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.
Grain storage management equipment
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.
The current guide for Phosphine Fumigation
.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.
Continue readingRESPIRATORS AND FILTERS FOR PHOSPHINE FUMIGATIONS
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.
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.
Continue readingPhosphine Best Management Practices: Disinfesting stored commodities
Phosphine remains the most widely used fumigant in Australia’s grain industry due to its effectiveness, low cost, and residue-free status. However, increasing resistance among key insect pests highlights the need for strict adherence to best practice guidelines.
This comprehensive manual outlines:
1. Proper application methods across different storage types (silos, bunkers, sheds)
2. Critical factors such as gas concentration, exposure time, temperature, and moisture
3. Equipment for monitoring gas levels and ensuring safe fumigant handling
4. Strategies to delay and manage resistance, including use of sulfuryl fluoride and integrated pest management
Compiled by leading experts including Dr Manoj Nayak, Dr Joanne Holloway, Chris Warrick, and Patrick Wilson, this document is a valuable resource for growers, storage operators, and advisors working to maintain grain quality and market access.
Continue readingFumigation Recirculation
During this video, Chris Warrick and Alex Conway discuss ‘Fumigation recirculation’ and provide guidance on both passive and powered systems.
Continue readingPest Resistance Raising the Knowledge Bar for Stored Grain
Over the past five years, insect pests have become harder to control with the fumigant used widely in on-farm storage, the GRDC’s national monitoring and management program has found.
Continue readingNew Phosphine Residue Limits Test Venting Standards
New phosphine residue limits are shaping best practices for grain storage and fumigation venting. GRDC’s article, New Phosphine Residue Limits Test Venting Standards, discusses the recent updates to phosphine residue regulations and how they impact fumigation processes.
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