Successful Approach to Controlling Grain Pests
The combination of being a non-toxic treatment and its obvious efficacy has encouraged Suffolk farmers, John and Christopher Barber, to continue to use Silico-Sec, the diatomaceous earth treatment, in their grain store this harvest. Growing winter wheat, winter barley and beans, John and Christopher do all their own cultivations, spraying and harvesting and have two grain stores that hold the majority of their grain until December or January until it is marketed.
“Grain pests can be a nuisance and they result in spoiled grain and loss of quality and revenue. We prefer a preventative approach and treat the fabric of the grain before harvest. Grain stores harbour insects and mites in cracks and crevices and these pests are ready to infest new parcels of grain when they are placed in the store. We start by cleaning up the stores and getting rid of all the dust, grain residues and debris. Silico-Sec is then applied as a dry dust to the fabric of the store, making sure that walls, floors, equipment, ventilation ducts, intake pits, elevators, rafters and other surfaces, especially corners and crevices, are all covered. It is important to get thorough and even coverage over the whole fabric of the empty grain store in order to get the best result. We have moved to Silico-Sec as it is a non-toxic, non-chemical product that controls all insect grain pests and it is easy to apply,” says Christopher Barber.
“Silico-Sec is a biophysical treatment derived from diatomaceous earth by a special process and consisting of highly micronised specific amorphous silica (silicon dioxide). The absorbent silica in the product controls insects and mites by abrading the outside of the pests, removing their water-proofing waxes in the cuticle and resulting in desiccation and death,” explains Dr. David Stormonth, Technical Manager for Interfarm (UK) Ltd.
“In addition to treating the grain store, Silico-Sec can also be applied to the surface of stored grain, either conventional or organic. It should be applied to the grain heap after the heat and moisture content have been reduced within the HGCA guidelines and then worked into the top 30 cms with a rake. It is important to treat all of the surface area to avoid pests migrating to untreated areas. Silico-Sec appears to be stable at high and low temperatures and the treated grain should be managed to maintain normal storage conditions. There is no withholding period, although it does give persistent control. Total control of infestations can take up to 4-6 weeks if used curatively, although control can be seen to be taking effect within days. Preventative protection of the grain is the best way as the application rate is significantly lower, ” advises Dr. Stormonth.
As an approved direct food additive, Silico-Sec has low mammalian toxicity and leaves no harmful residues, which is an advantage over the more toxic chemicals. It is a natural, non-toxic alternative to OP treatments and can be used in conventional and organic farming systems. Because Silico-Sec is a biophysical product, it is effective against all target pests, including those resistant to certain chemicals. However as a fine dust, protective eye protection and dust masks need to be worn during application.
Silico-Sec contains up to 96% inert silicon dioxide as a diatomaceous earth powder between 13-15 microns. It can be used as a store treatment or on stored feed wheat, barley (including malting barley) and oilseed rape (but not milling wheat as yet) for the prevention of invertebrate pests such as mites, weevils and beetles when used as part of an integrated storage management strategy. On grain stores it should be applied as a dry dust at a rate of 10gms per square metre at least 5 weeks before the stores are filled. As a treatment to stored grain, it is applied to the grain surface, either as a preventative treatment at a rate of 200 gms per m² or as a curative application at the rate of 600 gms per m². Silico-Sec is packed in 15-kg bags and is available exclusively via Interfarm distributors.
