Before the rush of harvest, take time to get grain bins ready for a new crop.
The first step in minimizing grain spoilage from insects is to start with a clean bin. Grain-feeding pests can survive on residual grain, broken kernels, fines, foreign material and moulds accumulated inside grain bins and around the bin perimeter.
Limit accessibility by sealing gaps and cracks, cleaning grain-handling equipment, removing all potential food sources and in some cases applying insecticides.
Read Also
Staging slip leads to corn damage after Dicamba spray
The Ontario Weed Tour at the Elora Research Station discussed how plant staging accuracy, timing and weather conditions can significantly impact crop health, yield and limit potential herbicide application injury.
Check mechanical parts of the bin while it is empty and conduct any needed maintenance before new grain is stored. Seal gaps or cracks along the bin to prevent insect and moisture entry.
Check the roof around the vents or access doors, as those are common spots for leaks. Also clean out harvesting and handling equipment, like combines, trucks, wagons and augers, to remove dust and debris that can harbour mould and insects.
Sweep the bin walls and floor, clean the tops of doors, inside hollow pipes or ladders and inside augers. If possible, remove the aeration floor and clean out accumulated food materials. Some bin designs make under the floor cleanup a bit easier with removable floor panels throughout the bin or blow-out doors that can be opened.
If fines or Indian meal moth silks are starting to plug the space below the floor, remove the floor to vacuum or power wash.
Trim vegetation around bins, equipment and storage buildings to reduce potential refuge areas between seasons. Remove residual grain or debris around the bin. Consider using a rodenticide around the bin’s outer perimeter.
If the aeration floor can’t be removed, fumigation is the best option to eliminate carryover insects. Consider fumigation if insect activity caused issues for recent grain in storage. Follow label instructions and use extreme caution when applying fumigants or hire a trained and licensed fumigation specialist.
Consider an insecticide application to the clean walls and floor in the bin and around the exterior perimeter, especially if you may store grain into summer months. Some insecticides could also be applied to grain as you fill the bin or as a surface application.
When adding a new crop to the bin, use these basic principals to prevent storage quantity and quality loss:
- Use proper combine settings to limit grain damage and reduce the collection of fines and foreign materials.
- Clean the grain before putting it in the bin if fines are still a problem after adjusting combine settings.
- Minimize drop height in the grain system and reduce kernel damage by using cushion boxes to minimize grain-on-grain contact.
- If a grain spreader is not used, core the grain mass multiple times as the bin is filled to remove fines, broken kernels and foreign materials that naturally accumulate in the centre. A level surface will also improve aeration through the grain mass.
Store dry grain
- Follow grain storage moisture content recommendations, typically recommended as 15 per cent for corn grain stored through the winter and 13 per cent when stored past the spring into summer. For soybeans, recommendations are 13 and 11 per cent, respectively.
Store cool grain
- Cool grain to below 4 C as soon as ambient temperatures will allow in the fall. Insect development, including feeding, is reduced below 10 C as insects become inactive.
- Run a full cooling cycle for aeration fans. Check that the grain at the top of the bin is cool, as this is the last grain to cool when fans push air upward.
- Run aeration cycles throughout the storage period to ensure grain temperature remains cool and even throughout the grain mass. Grain under the roof and near the walls can collect solar heat as the roof and wall steel are warmed by the sun.
Seal aeration fans when not in use to prevent warm or moist air and insects from entering. Monitor grain at least every other week to check for insect activity and signs of spoilage, such as crusting, damp/warm spots, musty or sour odours, or rising CO2 levels with a handheld CO2 monitor.
Follow these good grain storage principles to avoid quality loss and subsequent issues with grain flow during unloading. If quality issues are discovered during unloading, be careful to avoid dangerous situations that could lead to engulfment or entrapment.
