It takes about five weeks to achieve good grain store hygiene following treatment of the empty store fabric, so farmers need to start thinking about what they will use, particularly now as one of the standard treatments pirimiphos-methyl can no longer be used for this purpose.
Dr. Stormonth, Technical Manager of Interfarm Ltd., explains that grain store structures house pests, even when empty, and these pests will infest new parcels of grain when placed into the store after harvest. "Grain pests can lodge in the smallest of places, such as cracks, cervices, airways, ducts, intake pits, elevators and all these areas will need cleaning and then treating. The store needs to be thoroughly cleaned of residual material, debris and dust, paying special attention to the likely places where pests can be harboured. Using the specially developed Venturi Applicator, Silico-Sec is then applied as a dry dust over the entire fabric of the store and this includes walls, floors, equipment, ventilation ducts, intake pits, elevators, rafters, corners and crevices. Thorough and even coverage of the whole fabric and structure of the empty grain store is essential in order to get the best results," advises Dr. Stormonth.
"Derived from diatomaceous earth (DE), Silico-Sec is a biophysical treatment, consisting of highly micronised specific amorphous silica (silicon dioxide). The silica in Silico-Sec abrades and damages the cuticles of insects and mites, removing the water-proofing waxes and resulting in desiccation and death of the pests. It is a proven, non-chemical method of controlling a broad range of the common insect grain pests, including grain weevils, saw-toothed grain beetles, red-rust flour beetles, cosmopolitan food mites and flour mites. Being a biophysical product, it will control any pest, including mites."
"Also, because it is a biophysical product, Silico-Sec has no issue of resistance or any restrictions associated with chemical-based treatments. It is a natural, non-toxic alternative to OP treatments that can be used in both conventional and organic farming systems," adds David.
Silico-Sec contains up to 96% inert silicon dioxide as a diatomaceous earth powder derived by a special process and consisting of highly micronized amorphous silica (silicon dioxide). It can be used either as a store treatment or on stored feed wheat, barley and oilseed rape (but not milling wheat as yet) for the prevention of invertebrate pests such as mites, weevils and beetles when used as part of an integrated storage management strategy. To treat store fabric, Silico-Sec is applied as a dry dust at a rate of 10gms per square metre. It has both protectant and curative treatment. It is packed in 15-kg bags and is available exclusively from Interfarm distributors.
