April 2010 - Current topics

At regular intervals it is prudent to give your stored grain a thorough check for:

1. Moisture Content - not just on the top but a combination of top and bottom samples. Excess moisture will encourage bugs and will allow mycotoxins to develop dangerously.

2. Temperature - someone out there has hotspots in their grain and only a thorough sampling regime will find them. These can be caused through a variety of reasons but it starts with the grain being out of condition and not receiving the throughput of cold low humidity air which will dry it out. Hotspots will attract bugs and mycotoxins will develop fast into something really nasty to humans and animals.

3. Mite infestation - All you growers who attain the standards of your farm assurance membership will know that you are obliged to check your stored grain for mites and any other bugs which can be found. I would suggest a check of the catwalks and tunnels would show any signs of insect activity and will help you decide on the intensity of cleaning and sanitising when you face this task later in the year.