Protecting Your Harvest: The Importance of Post-Harvest Grain Protection: In a conversation with Farm Director KC Sheperd, Miya Butler, Regional Sales Manager at Central Life Sciences, emphasized the critical need for protecting stored grain to maintain profitability, especially during years of high yields.
The Role of Grain Protectants
Central Life Sciences provides grain protectants for stored grains, serving commercial grain elevators and farmers who store grain on their farm or in ground piles.
The main objective of using protectants is to control the “monstrous issue” of pests that can infest stored grain, which ultimately affects the profitability of the harvest.
Best Practices for Post-Harvest Protection
To effectively protect grain after harvest, Butler recommends a two-step process:
- Preparation: Before the grain goes into the storage bin, ensure the bins and equipment are clean.
- Application: Apply the product to the grain as it is going into the storage bin. This allows the grain to be protected while it sits in storage.
Once the product is applied, producers can “set it and not have to worry about it,” effectively keeping pests like weevils out.
The Downside of Skipping Protection
Not protecting stored grain can lead to significant issues that reduce the value of the harvest:
- Shrinkage: Lack of protection leads to shrink, which negatively impacts the amount of grain a producer can sell and provide.
- Pest Damage: Weevils are a particularly problematic pest. They burrow into the kernels of wheat or corn. Once inside, they are protected from the treatment, making it difficult to kill them.
- Contamination: Pests damage the kernel, and their presence can lead to dockage or rejection when the grain is sold. It’s important to test the grain to ensure that any potentially compromised kernels are identified.
By protecting the grain, producers can minimize shrinkage and maximize the bushels they can sell.
Where to Find More Information
Producers looking to learn more about grain protectants can find information about products, specific pests, and regional sales managers on the Central Life Sciences website.
