Australia
August 13, 2013

With an increase in on-farm grain storage in recent years, the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) has invested in a range of extension material to assist growers.

The latest is a GRDC fact sheet, Grain Storage Fumigation – a guide, which outlines how to safely and effectively use phosphine to control grain pests.

The fact sheet covers key points of fumigation including:

• To control insects at all life stages the only option is to fumigate in gas-tight storage.
• Phosphine gas needs to reach, and be maintained at, a concentration possible only in a gas-tight storage.
• The total time required for effective fumigation ranges from 10 to 17 days, accounting for the minimum exposure period, ventilation and withholding period.
• Cool grain temperatures require a longer fumigation period. Aeration fans fitted on gas-tight silos provide a number of benefits including a shorter ventilation period following a fumigation.

To download the fact sheet, visit www.grdc.com.au/GRDC-FS-GrainFumigation.

Website: http://www.grdc.com.au

Published: August 13, 2013