Grain protectants must be applied to grain free of pests, and are most effective when grain is treated into clean facilities. The following steps will help ensure grain storages begin and remain insect-free for the storage duration.
Know the key pests.
Remove insect food sources and control the base insect population. Good hygiene is critical to reducing the overall potential insect burden.
For information on Calibration and Application, download the Technical Manual.
Prepare the grain protectant spray application and augering systems.
The position of the spray line nozzle can vary on the equipment, determined primarily on the auger barrel length. If the nozzle is too close to the hopper on longer augers, it can create too much drag and affect elevator output.
The nozzle must be positioned to allow suitable coverage and mixing as the flyting lifts the grain up and into the storage. The nozzle location must allow ease of access to check for spray pattern and nozzle blockages which can occur in the presence of grain dust, as well as calibration checks.
Apply the grain protectant ensuring all grain is protected.
Effective application of grain protectants relies on the even distribution of a very small amount of pesticide throughout the entire grain mass. Uneven distribution may leave pockets or layers of unprotected grain where insect infestation may occur. Always use an auger when applying Conserve Plus. Corteva Agriscience does not support the use of tubeveyors, due to poor mixing/coverage issues. For more information on this step, download the Technical Manual
Once the grain protectant has been applied:
Manipulate the storage environmental to limit or prevent insect reproduction. Cool and dry environments are least favourable for storage insects, as evidenced in the table to the right.