For more than 40 years Phosphine has been a safe and reliable means of controlling grain storage insects. Over 80% of stored grain is treated with this chemical but resistance to Phosphine is building amongst insect populations. So when a previously resistant strain of Rust Red Flour Beetle in Western Australia was eradicated by Phosphine it was a remarkable result.
Grain growers are using silo aeration on their stored grain to gain harvest flexibility and more marketing options. Silo aeration can be used to cool grain and keep insect populations low. But it can also be used to dry the grain – allowing greater tolerance of moisture at harvest. But aeration drying makes the task of storing grain on farm even more challenging.
Grain storage specialist Philip Burrill explains aeration controllers
An investment in on-farm grain storage facilities has delivered greater marketing flexibility and labour savings at harvest for Moura farmer Michael Mactaggart, Bears Lagoon.
Grain storage consultant Peter Botta gives useful tips on silo hygiene as part of a grain storage series for the Grains Research and Development Corporation’s Ground Cover TV
