National Standard for Sealed Silos

A key concern for grain growers is on-farm grain storage. And not helping them in their attempt to ensure grain quality has been the lack of an Australian standard for sealed silos. In early 2010 a manufacturing standard was specified however it is a voluntary standard leaving it up to growers to make sure when they buy “air tight” that’s what they get. This report from the Grains Research and Development Corporation’s Ground Cover TV.

Overcoming Phosphine Resistant Insects

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.

Aeration Drying – Getting it Right

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.

Corporate video production by Anvil Media www.anvilmedia.com.au