Storing Grain to Reduce Insect Damage
(Floyd Dowell, Planting Hope International)
Reducing insect damage means:
• more maize to eat and sell
• more nutritious maize so your animals
gain more weight
• improves food security
We will learn a little about insects, and
various storage methods.
I won’t recommend just one way to store
grain, but I will discuss good, better, and
best storage methods
Larger Grain
Borer
Maize Weevil
• Adult
Weevil
Maize Weevil
• One weevil produces about
300 weevils in only 2 months!
Weevil
Pupa
• Today
– 1 weevil
• 2 months – 300 weevils
• 4 months – up to 90,000 weevils
from 1 weevil!!
Infested grain results in:
• Less grain weight – You can easily lose half of
your grain to insects!
Seed Coat
Infested grain results in:
• Less grain weight.
• Less nutrition – It is less healthy for you!
Infested grain results in:
• Less grain weight.
• Less nutrition.
• Less sprouting of seeds – Infested seed won’t
make a good crop next year!
Seed Coat
Infested grain results in:
•
•
•
•
Less grain weight.
Less nutrition.
Less sprouting of seeds.
Animals eat less infested grain, and gain less
weight.
Infested grain results in:
•
•
•
•
Less grain weight.
Less nutrition.
Less sprouting of seeds.
Animals eat less infested grain, and gain less
weight.
• Loss of the gift God gave us.
Tips For Preventing Insect Damage
• Clean the area before storing to remove
existing insects.
• Don’t feed the
insects and rats!
Tips For Preventing Insect Damage
• Clean the area before storing to remove existing insects.
• Treat the area with a pesticide before storing.
Tips For Preventing Insect Damage
• Clean the area before storing to remove existing insects.
• Treat the area before storing with a pesticide.
• Mix chemical dust with the grain. Buy only
sealed containers!
Unsealed Actellic
Sealed Shumba
Much of this Actellic was missing!
Tips For Preventing Insect Damage
• Clean the area before storing to remove existing insects.
• Treat the area before storing with a pesticide.
• Mix chemical dust with the grain.
• Fumigate in a closed storage room..
Types of Pesticides
• Chemical dusts (Actellic Super, Actellic Golden
Dust, Shumba Super, Stocal Super, Spinosad)
• Chemical gas (Phostoxin, Methyl Bromide)
• Diatomacious earths (Protect-It, PyriSec, and
DEA-P, Dryacide )
Always follow manufacturer
instructions.
Never purchase products that
have been opened! You might
be buying flour!
Tips For Preventing Insect Damage
•
•
•
•
Clean the area before storing to remove existing insects.
Treat the area before storing with a pesticide.
Mix chemical dust with the grain.
Fumigate.
• Store in a oxygen-free and rat-proof container.
Metal storage barrels.
Requires no chemicals when sealed correctly.
Insects are controlled by suffocation.
Rodent-proof.
(Tanzania)
Plastic barrel prevent rats.
Requires chemicals to control insects.
Rats!
Oxygen free bags can be used to control
insects without pesticides.
BUT, must be protected against rats.
Tips For Preventing Insect Damage
•
•
•
•
•
Clean the area before storing to remove existing insects.
Treat the area before storing with a pesticide.
Mix chemical dust with the grain.
Fumigate.
Store in a oxygen-free and rat-proof container.
• Check your grain about
every month and apply
insect control as needed.
Tips For Preventing Insect Damage
•
•
•
•
•
•
Clean the area before storing to remove existing insects.
Treat the area before storing with a pesticide.
Mix chemical dust with the grain.
Fumigate.
Store in a oxygen-free container.
Check your grain about every month and apply insect control
as needed.
• Keep grain dry (store at <11%).
Tips For Preventing Insect Damage
•
•
•
•
•
•
Clean the area before storing to remove existing insects.
Treat the area before storing with a pesticide.
Mix chemical dust with the grain.
Fumigate.
Store in a oxygen-free and rat-proof container.
Check your grain about every month and apply insect
control as needed.
• Keep grain dry
• Store in a cool place
Tips For Preventing Insect Damage
• Chemical control such as Shumba, Actellic,
Malathion, or Phostoxin gas
and/or
• Oxygen-free (barrels or plastic bags)
Storage Methods
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•
•
•
Nylon or jute bags + pesticides Good
Oxygen-free bags
Barrels (air tight)
Barrels (not air tight) +
pesticides
• Barrels (air tight) + pesticides
• Barrels (not air tight) + oxygen
Better
free bags + pesticides
Types of Storage
Containers
• Oxygen
fee bags
• 200 - 300 kg
• Rat proof containers
with bags
Tips For Preventing Insect Damage
- Review • If do these things “On Time” and at a “At a High Standard”,
you can store your grain “Without Wasting “any!
•
•
•
•
•
•
Clean the area before storing to remove existing insects.
Treat the area before storing with a pesticide.
Mix chemical dust with the grain.
Fumigate.
Store in a oxygen-free container.
Check your grain about every month and apply insect control
as needed.
• Keep grain dry
• Store in a cool place
Tips For Preventing Insect Damage
• My recommendation:
– Get several clean barrels.
– Fill with clean, dry grain mixed with Shumba or
Actellic, preferably in a oxygen-free bag.
– Treat with photoxin.
– Seal the barrel as tightly as possible.
– Store in a cool, dry place.
– Check monthly and treat as needed.
– If you do this, you should have NO insect damage!
Tips For Preventing Insect Damage
• Chemical control such as Shumba, Actellic,
Malathion, or Phostoxin gas
and/or
• Oxygen-free (barrels or plastic bags)
Dr. Floyd Dowell, Ph.D.
Agricultural Engineer
Planting Hope International
3310 Germann Drive
Manhattan, KS 66503
785.776.8523
plantinghope@yahoo.com
www.plantinghopeinternational.org