How often should grain storage facilities be disinfested?

It is essential to create the right conditions in the granary. This will ensure that the raw materials remain of high quality, because only in this form should they be delivered to the food industry and consumers. Otherwise, there is a high risk of infection.

The milling quality of damaged grain deteriorates significantly. In addition, a batch of spoiled grain will lead to significant losses. To avoid this, disinfestation should be carried out.

What is the purpose of grain storage disinfestation

This procedure helps protect grain from a wide variety of pests. The threat usually comes from insects. Among them are flour mites, grain moths, bread borer,
elongated mite, May beetle, rice and boll weevil, butterflies, etc. In addition to insects, grain is also affected by birds, such as pigeons and sparrows, as well as mammalian rodents. They not only breed in the grain, but can also poison it by carrying bacteria and infections.

Properly performed pest control will help to protect grain from pests and prevent their further appearance in the granary.

How and how often to disinfect a grain storage facility

Disinfestation is carried out immediately after the elevator area has been cleared of grain, so the frequency of procedures depends on this. Grain storage facilities are most often filled in the summer, when the harvest is in progress. In this case, it is important that there is no old grain left, as the protection means may have expired.

In many ways, the frequency of grain storage disinfestation depends on the following factors:

• chemical composition and type of agents used to treat the grain storage facility;
• method of treatment;
• degree of infestation.

Before the procedure, the degree of infestation is checked and a plan for further operations is drawn up. If necessary, disinfestation can be carried out once a week or once a month. When the situation improves, the procedure is carried out less frequently.

Before starting the process, the room is sealed so that the chemicals are concentrated and have a significant effect. And only then do they start the disinfestation itself. It is carried out in different ways and with different chemicals. Fumigation spreads the substance as a vapor or gas. Wetting involves spraying chemicals.

The first two options require a more frequent periodicity. The most reliable method is spraying with cold or hot fog. It is important to treat the surrounding area – the nearest 5 meters. After treatment, the granary should be ventilated.