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Grain storage, temperature importantAfter cleaning bins and equipment, the next step is to ensure grain quality going into storage. It must be clean, sound and dry and it's essential that it be relatively free of fines (cracked grain), trash and foreign material. Stored grain insects cannot live on extremely dry grain (less than 10 percent moisture), however it is impractical to reduce grain moisture much below minimum moisture levels necessary for long-term storage. The safe storage moisture level for wheat is about 13 percent, corn 15 percent, and sunflower 10 percent. Insect activity and reproduction are favored by high grain moisture, especially when condensation and molds occur and fermentation raises the grain temperature. Spoilage and internal heating allows insects to remain active--even in winter. Proper bin aeration can help manage grain temperature. Since insects are "cold-blooded", they are less active in lower temperatures. Maintaining "cool" grain can be particularly important in reducing insect reproduction. Condensation of moisture in the grain mass is prevented by slow cooling and gradual reduction in the difference between grain temperature and the outside average air temperature. In a 1994 study, Kansas entomologists found that proper aeration and cooling after harvest could eliminate the need for grain protectants (insecticides) in some cases.
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