State-wide rainfall late in the crop growing season sets Victorian grain growers up for a terrific harvest this year.
'To maximise financial returns from this rain and year-round effort, growers must maintain grain quality through excellent hygiene practices,' Agriculture Victoria grains industry biosecurity officer Jim Moran said.
'Hygienically harvesting, transporting and storing grain requires active and ongoing interventions to ensure the harvest income isn't reduced by storage pests and diseases which can reduce quality, price and limit your marketing options.'
Hygiene strategies should be put in place now, including:
- Clean up grain residues and spills around silos, bunkers and sheds.
- Clean out empty grain storages, grain handling and harvesting equipment and machinery (Apply a structural treatment such as a desiccant dust to each surface prior to using).
- Repair seals around hatches, latches and chutes to prevent insects gaining access.
- Plan for the capability to aerate the new crop in the silo as a cooler environment slows down the insect breeding cycle, making it easier to control arriving insects.
- Get advice on chemical grain protectants to use on new grain and how best to apply if you plan to store grain for lengthy periods of time.
- Stay informed: Get a free copy of the Monitoring Stored Grain on Farm booklet and the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) publication Grain Storage GrowNote from Agriculture Victoria.
- Ensure grain from this year's harvest isn't mixed with grain from previous harvests that could be contaminated with insects and disease.
- If using a contractor, ask these five important questions:
- What was the last crop harvested?
- When, how and where did you clean down?
- Did you use a desiccant dust to eliminate stored grain pests?
Mr Moran said he recommended farmers insist any contractor coming to work on their property cleans vehicles and equipment before entering.
'Soil and plant material can carry weed-seeds and pests when left on tyres, radiator grilles, wheel arches, floor mats and work boots.
'Make sure you check any machinery or vehicles that are going to be working on your farm and remember that if you are not satisfied with their cleanliness, you can direct them to your vehicle clean-down station or a designated area which can be monitored.'
There are high pressure hoses at shire council depots, Agriculture Victoria/Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) depots, Country Fire Authority (CFA) depots as well as at many agribusiness sites, livestock saleyards or in dedicated wash bays at nearby agriculture or horticultural properties.
