The countdown is on to harvest 2020 and many growers are now taking the opportunity to prepare their grain stores for the busy period.
In many cases, growers are now just clearing the last of their 2019 old crop to make way for this season’s grain.
However, before any grain can be tipped, stores need to be up to scratch. Like any foodstuff, grain must be protected from contamination.
This is crucial if growers are members of the Irish Grain Assurance Scheme (IGAS), as adequate grain storage is a key requirement for accreditation.
Grain stores should be free from any potential pests, spores, mould, droppings, oil spillages and any other contaminant before the harvest begins.
Below are some of the key points to look out for when cleaning your store this year.
1. Pests and diseases
Fungi, insects and mites can be a key cause of grain spoilage in stores. During a mild winter, insects and mites can continue to breed and lay eggs.
Mites and insects can cause direct damage to the grain by eating the germ or hollowing it out and also cause spoilage.
Respiring insects and mites can also generate heat and moisture, leading to localised hotspots within the grain pile. Storage fungi can grow on cereals from about 14.5% moisture content upwards and can cause heating, produce dangerous mycotoxins and affect germination.
Droppings also cause grain spoilage.
Droppings from birds and rodents also cause grain spoilage.
2. Cleaning
Stores should be cleaned annually. Once emptied, stores should be thoroughly swept out.
Ideally, use an industrial vacuum cleaner to remove debris. Pay attention to cracks, crevices and roof joints where grain and dust may have accumulated.
Cracks can harbour droppings and contaminants.
Particular attention should be paid to the removal of any toxic material such as farmyard manure, bait, dressed seed, fertiliser, droppings, etc.
3. Disinfecting
Following best practice, stores should then be disinfected. Disinfectants/sanitisers can be applied during power washing of the store. Ensure only approved pesticides or disinfectants are used as a record needs to be kept of this.
Insecticides such as K-obiol EC25 can be applied to grain stores to control insects and mites prior to harvest. Ensure correct personal protective gear is worn.
After cleaning, the presence of insects and mites should be monitored. A sticky trap should be placed every 5m or so around the store.
4. Baiting and monitoring
Each grain store should contain a number of bait boxes for rodent control. These boxes should be designed to keep non-target animals out while allowing access for rodents to the bait.
Each store should contain a map showing the location of the boxes.
They should also be secured to the wall or floor, be tamper-resistant and be positioned to ensure they avoid contamination of grain. Each store should contain a map showing the location of the boxes.
Bird-proofing your store can be a challenge, but, when used correctly, mesh or netting can help prevent entry into stores. Bird scarers (audio alarms, birds of prey decoys, etc) are also available.
5. Handling equipment
Finally, clean your grain handling equipment such as buckets, dryers, augers, pedestals, trailers, elevators, hoppers, etc.
Equipment can harbour fragments of broken grains.
Handling equipment can harbour fragments of broken grains, which are particularly susceptible to insect, mite, fungal infections and mycotoxins.
The countdown is on to harvest 2020 and many growers are now taking the opportunity to prepare their grain stores for the busy period.
In many cases, growers are now just clearing the last of their 2019 old crop to make way for this season’s grain.
However, before any grain can be tipped, stores need to be up to scratch. Like any foodstuff, grain must be protected from contamination.
This is crucial if growers are members of the Irish Grain Assurance Scheme (IGAS), as adequate grain storage is a key requirement for accreditation.
Grain stores should be free from any potential pests, spores, mould, droppings, oil spillages and any other contaminant before the harvest begins.
Below are some of the key points to look out for when cleaning your store this year.
1. Pests and diseases
Fungi, insects and mites can be a key cause of grain spoilage in stores. During a mild winter, insects and mites can continue to breed and lay eggs.
Mites and insects can cause direct damage to the grain by eating the germ or hollowing it out and also cause spoilage.
Respiring insects and mites can also generate heat and moisture, leading to localised hotspots within the grain pile. Storage fungi can grow on cereals from about 14.5% moisture content upwards and can cause heating, produce dangerous mycotoxins and affect germination.
Droppings also cause grain spoilage.
Droppings from birds and rodents also cause grain spoilage.
2. Cleaning
Stores should be cleaned annually. Once emptied, stores should be thoroughly swept out.
Ideally, use an industrial vacuum cleaner to remove debris. Pay attention to cracks, crevices and roof joints where grain and dust may have accumulated.
Cracks can harbour droppings and contaminants.
Particular attention should be paid to the removal of any toxic material such as farmyard manure, bait, dressed seed, fertiliser, droppings, etc.
3. Disinfecting
Following best practice, stores should then be disinfected. Disinfectants/sanitisers can be applied during power washing of the store. Ensure only approved pesticides or disinfectants are used as a record needs to be kept of this.
Insecticides such as K-obiol EC25 can be applied to grain stores to control insects and mites prior to harvest. Ensure correct personal protective gear is worn.
After cleaning, the presence of insects and mites should be monitored. A sticky trap should be placed every 5m or so around the store.
4. Baiting and monitoring
Each grain store should contain a number of bait boxes for rodent control. These boxes should be designed to keep non-target animals out while allowing access for rodents to the bait.
Each store should contain a map showing the location of the boxes.
They should also be secured to the wall or floor, be tamper-resistant and be positioned to ensure they avoid contamination of grain. Each store should contain a map showing the location of the boxes.
Bird-proofing your store can be a challenge, but, when used correctly, mesh or netting can help prevent entry into stores. Bird scarers (audio alarms, birds of prey decoys, etc) are also available.
5. Handling equipment
Finally, clean your grain handling equipment such as buckets, dryers, augers, pedestals, trailers, elevators, hoppers, etc.
Equipment can harbour fragments of broken grains.
Handling equipment can harbour fragments of broken grains, which are particularly susceptible to insect, mite, fungal infections and mycotoxins.
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: