October 12, 2009

The Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) on Friday (Oct 9) advised growers to aerate grain to prevent insect infestations.

Blaine Timlick, stored products entomologist for the CGC, warned producers to check the temperature of their stored grain. He recommended producers aerate their grain to bring the temperature to below 15 degrees Celsius as quickly as possible. The CGC said September was warmer than most of the summer, and some producers reported storing their grain at temperatures close to 30 degrees Celsius during the 2009 harvest.

CGC said suction aeration pulls air from the top of the bin to the bottom and is a better method of aerating than traditional methods that push air through the grain mass. Suction aeration also allows for better insect control as it cools grain faster.

If producers do not have aeration systems, they should turn their grain frequently and monitor its temperature, said Timlick.

While reducing temperature through aeration helps producers manage insect pests, producers should also consider keeping grain at a low, uniform temperature to avoid the development of molds and associated mycotoxins, the commission said.

Preventing insect infestation is important because elevator managers have the right to reject infested deliveries, according to the CGC.