Farmers are being reminded of the importance of thoroughly cleaning out grain stores ahead of this year’s harvest to reduce the risk of insect damage.

Ken Black, account manager at Envu, says milder winters are removing one of the natural factors that previously helped reduce pest pressure in grain stores.

“We’re no longer benefitting from the cold winter air that helped lower temperatures in grain stores, and in turn, help keep insect numbers down,” he explains.

He warns that despite all the hard work growers put into cultivating crops, poor grain store preparation can lead to significant losses during storage.

“If you don’t get the storage environment as clean and insect-free as possible, you risk undoing all that effort,” he explains.

“Grain storage preparation is often the missing piece of the growing season jigsaw, but insect damage in stores can result in losses comparable to pests and diseases in the field.”

He recommends cleaning out grain stores six to eight weeks ahead of harvest, although he acknowledges that external factors – such as current grain prices – can reduce that window.

“A common mistake is only cleaning the floor and walls. It’s essential to get right up into the roof space, underfloor areas, drying ducts, conveyors, elevators, handling equipment, and even the combine - these are all places where insects can live.”

Once all areas have been cleaned and dust and debris removed, he advises monitoring for insect using traps, checking them seven to 10 days later.

“On the very rare occasion that no insect activity is found, a decision can be made to skip chemical treatment. But in most cases, farmers will apply a treatment as a belt and braces approach,” adds Mr Black.

He explains that the treatment must be applied to all surfaces until wet and then given enough time to take effect.

“It takes at least 24 hours to kill adult insects. However, the lifecycle of some insects is longer, additional time is needed for them to emerge and come into contact with the product.”

He recommends using a treatment like K-Obiol® EC25, which provides up to two months protection from a range of primary and secondary insects, including grain weevil, saw-toothed grain beetle, red rust flour beetle, and fungus beetle.

“Adopting a proactive approach to insect control, rather than a reactive approach, really pays off,” adds Mr Black.

“You don’t want to be left in a position where you’ve cleaned the store but missed a few insects, because if you haven’t sprayed against them, they’ll descend on the new grain once you put it in the shed and you’ll fall foul of a costly infestation.”