How to Protect Your Dry Grains From Insects
Insects can damage your grain if it's not protected from infestation. Several things can help protect your grains, including using secure drying methods. It's also important to keep insect activity at bay during and after harvest. Mechanical dryers are one option, but they can be expensive and are not environmentally friendly. Alternatively, you can opt for solar-powered dryers, which are much more cost-effective. Furthermore, using green energy to power your dryer will also help reduce the risk of mold and pest infestation. Insect-resistant grain storage containers are another good way to protect your grain.
The most efficient way to grain protection from insect infestation is to clean it properly. Proper sanitation helps keep pest eggs, larvae, and adult insects from breeding in the grain. You should also avoid putting newly harvested grain in a bin with old grain. To prevent this, keep the bin free of residual grain, dust, webbing, and fines. Moreover, keep the grain pile level and clean. If it isn't level, there is a risk of condensation and hot spots.
Adding protectant insecticide to your grain is another way to protect it from insects. You can apply it on the grain itself when it is being filled, or top-dress it before placing it into storage. Top dressing will help protect the grain from insects, but you should always be careful not to add too much protectant to the bin, because it will reduce its residual life.
Fumigation is another effective way to protect grain from insect infestation. However, this method is expensive and requires additional bin space. Furthermore, it may spread the insects throughout the grain mass. Another option is fumigation, which is relatively safe but has a risky side. Fumigants penetrate the grain and kill insects on both the grain and in the air. However, fumigation should only be applied by trained operators in pairs.
Saw-toothed grain beetle is another pest that attacks stored grains. The larvae feed inside the kernels of whole grains and are difficult to detect during the milling process. If left untreated, the adults will spread throughout the grains' surface and produce exit holes within five weeks of warm weather.
Grain weevils are among the most common pests in grains and can damage your grain in all stages. The adults have elongated snouts and are highly destructive. Lesser grain borer is another common pest that can cause damage to stored grains. Although it doesn't infest unscathed kernels, it can cause your grain to spoil.
The best way to protect your cereal grains from weevils is to store them in cool storage areas. Temperatures should remain around 60 degrees Fahrenheit during storage. If they're warmer than this, you should immediately throw them out. Also, avoid storing your cereal grains in partially-used containers.
