GRAIN FUMIGATION protecting stock, site and staff
By Dee Ward-Thompson, BPCA Head of Technical and Peter Woolley, Director of Alpha Fumigation Services and member of BPCA’s Fumigation and Controlled Environments (FaCE) group
At British Pest Control Association (BPCA) we’re staunch advocates of the ‘prevention is better than cure’ approach to the threat of insect infestations. Taking steps to prevent infestations through regular inspections
and pest control maintenance cycles is vital to help maintain stock levels. However, there may be times when pests slip through these prevention measures and you need to start considering your control options. So how can feed compounders put a good pest prevention strategy into place and what happens when you need to undertake grain fumigation?
A CLOSER LOOK AT PEST SPECIES While feed compounders often focus on the damage that rodents can do to crops – other, much smaller pests can also pose a threat. There is a high level of awareness around the damage that rats can do to stored products. For every kilo of stock consumed by rodents, 10kg of produce destined for animal consumption is contaminated with their urine and droppings, rendering it useless. But what can be the results of insect infestation on an already reduced harvest? Infestations of grain pests such as the Saw-Toothed Grain Beetle
and Grain Weevil can be devastating. Unchecked infestations will decimate stored grain, making it unusable. Widely considered to be the ‘world’s most expensive pest’ Stored Product Insects cost billions each year in additional operating costs and loss of product. There are millions of different species globally, and many will not only eat grains and cereals, but will often make their home in them too. Some will tunnel into grains to create a harbourage where they will breed and complete their full life cycle.
TAKE STEPS TO SPOT INFESTATION EARLY Regular inspections, leading to early identification of a problem is the best way to ensure insect activity can be dealt with before any major damage occurs. By cooling the grain to temperatures of 15°C you can slow down
and eventually stop insect breeding and development. Complement the cooling of grain with regular inspections to product and storage areas by a suitably qualified person. The industry standard minimum is RSPH Level 2 Award in Pest Management. This will ensure that infestation will be spotted early and that insect activity can be dealt with before any major damage occurs. Signs such as damage to product, discolouration or ‘taint’ on
the product should immediately be investigated. Also look out for the webbing left by moth larvae, which not only contaminates products but can cause considerable damage to machinery and equipment. Another common indicator of infestation is frass – the excrement
of insect larvae – while grain that is infested tends to become warmer which can lead to damp, mould and even grain germination. Inspections should continue on a regular basis even after treatment, to help avoid re-infestation.
PROTECTING THE FOOD CHAIN While prevention is always better than cure, grain fumigation has an important role to play in protecting stored crops. In addition to fumigation protecting the domestic feed supply chain from insect infestations, the fumigation of ships in transit destined for the UK is also widely carried out. These are frequently imported cargoes of
Left: A Gas Clearance certificate will be issued when levels permit PAGE 50 JULY/AUGUST 2021 FEED COMPOUNDER
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