Valuable grain requires protection in store‏
Recent inspections of stored grain have resulted in reports of some pest infestations already being found and growers are being advised to inspect their grain stores as a priority and treat their grain against pest infestations, if necessary.
According to Dr. David Stormonth of Interfarm (UK) Ltd, this is particularly pertinent this year as the price of grain has increased substantially and growers are focusing on protecting their investment in store. "If you can keep your grain in top quality condition, free from pests and diseases, it will be an even more valuable commodity when you come to sell it. Many growers are obviously thinking along these lines as we have been receiving many more queries about the use of the biophysical grain treatment, Silico-Sec. Silico-Sec is an environmentally safe, non-toxic, proven treatment derived from diatomaceous earth consisting of highly micronised specific amorphous silica. It is the absorbent silica in the product that controls insects and mites, by abraiding the outside of the pests, removing their water-proofing wax in their cuticles and resulting in desiccation and death."
"Silico-Sec can be used on stored crops for the management of a wide range of insect pests and mites, with no issues of resistance, residues or restrictions associated with chemical-based treatments. As a biophysical product, it is considered to be inert and so is exempt from registration under the UK's Control of Pesticides Regulations and it can not leave any chemical residues. Cereal and rape growers at the start of the food-chain can use Silico-Sec as a non-chemical pesticide control measure with no with-holding period and which is acceptable to processors and consumers at the end of the chain," points out David.
David explains that Silico-Sec is effective against all target pests, including the grain weevil, the saw-toothed grain beetle, the red-rust flour beetle, the cosmopolitan food mite, the flour mite and the larvae of the cosmopolitan flour moth. "Because it is a biophysical product, Silico-Sec also has no issues of resistance as it will control all pests, including those resistant to certain other chemicals. It is a natural, non-toxic alternative to OP treatments and can be used in both conventional and organic farming," adds David.
"If evidence of mite or insect infestation is found in stores following inspection, growers are advised to look further as the problem will undoubtedly be found in other parts of the grain pile. For reasons of ease of movement and also for oxygen availability, most pest infestations will be found in the surface layers of grain piles. Surface layer treatments, therefore, can be highly effective in both prevention and cure," says David.
"As a treatment to stored grain, Silico-Sec can be applied to the grain surface, either as a low cost preventative treatment at a rate of 200g/m² or as a localised curative application at the rate of 600g/m², depending on the extent of the problem. It should be applied to the surface of stored grains after the heat and moisture content have been reduced within the HGCA guidelines and then worked into the top 30 cms with a rake. Silico-Sec is best used as part of an integrated strategy for grain store management, together with temperature and moisture," advises Dr. Stormonth.
"Storage pests cause direct damage to grain and create conditions in which fungal growth can occur. With the excellent grain pricing at the moment, growers are keen to protect their investment," concludes Dr. Stormonth.
Silico-Sec contains up to 96% inert silicon dioxide as a diatomaceous earth powder between 13-15 microns. It can be used either as a store treatment or on stored feed wheat, 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. It has both protectant and curative treatment. It is packed in 15-kg bags and is available exclusively from Interfarm distributors.
For further comment and information, please contact Dr. David Stormonth, Technical Manager, Interfarm (UK) Ltd. on 01354 741414 or 07818 036506 (mobile).
