Grain pests might be out of sight, but they’re certainly not out of action. Without proper hygiene and regular monitoring, insects can quietly cause serious damage to your stored crops, reducing grain quality, increasing spoilage, and ultimately cutting into your profit.
Grain store protection doesn’t stop once the last trailer load leaves the field. In fact, post-harvest is a critical period and how you manage it could be the difference between a high-quality, sellable crop and one that’s downgraded or rejected entirely.
Hygiene Before Harvest: Your First Line of Defence
One of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of pest infestation is to start with a clean grain store before harvest. Even small amounts of leftover grain or dust from the previous season can provide just enough food for primary pests to survive, ready to multiply once the new grain is brought in. When this happens, it doesn’t take long for populations to build up and for infestations to start silently damaging your grain.
Primary pests such as the grain weevil and saw-toothed grain beetle attack whole grains, often going unnoticed until it's too late. As they feed, they create the perfect entry point for secondary pests, which then feed on damaged grain, dust, or milled product. This cycle can quickly create ‘hotspots’ which are areas of warmth, mould, and fungal growth that further reduce grain quality. In poor storage conditions, even tertiary pests like mites can appear.
Starting the season with a clean store and an insecticidal treatment sets the tone for long-term protection. K-Obiol EC is a professional concentrate that provides long-lasting residual control in empty grain stores, knocking down any lingering pests before the new crop arrives.
Don’t Forget About Post-Harvest
It’s easy to shift focus after harvest ends as many farmers turn straight to autumn cultivations or planning for next season. But this is exactly when issues can arise in storage. Insects can remain active in the background, especially if temperature and moisture conditions are favourable.
Regular monitoring is crucial in this post-harvest window. Grain should be checked every few days initially, and then weekly once moisture and temperature levels are stable. The goal is to get the grain below 14.5% moisture and reduce the temperature as quickly as possible. Insects stop breeding below 15°C and become inactive below 5°C, so the sooner those conditions are reached, the lower the risk of infestation.
Monitoring traps can be used to spot insect activity early, offering valuable insight into whether further action is needed. If insects are detected, grain treatments can help regain control before the damage becomes widespread. K-Obiol ULV is ideal for this, designed for ultra-low volume application directly to stored grain. It offers reliable protection from both primary and secondary pests and is best applied with specialist equipment like the K-Obiol Spray Application, which ensures even coverage and minimal waste.
What Pests Are You Actually Dealing With?
The most common troublemakers fall into three categories:
- Primary pests like grain weevils and saw-toothed beetles target whole, unbroken grains. The grain weevil’s larvae develop inside the kernel itself, hollowing it from the inside. The saw-toothed grain beetle, often the most prevalent, thrives in warm, undisturbed conditions and can cause grain to heat up, which then encourages mould and sprouting.
- Secondary pests feed on damaged grain, dust, and milled residues. One example is the rust-red flour beetle, which not only feeds on compromised grain but also helps spread fungal spores, making things worse.
- Tertiary pests like mites become a problem when storage conditions are warm and humid due to insect activity or poor ventilation.
Climate Shift: Why Pest Pressure Is Increasing
Milder winters have made it harder to rely on cold weather to naturally suppress pest populations. Insects are breeding later into the year and staying active longer. This shift means the job of controlling pests now falls firmly on the shoulders of the store operator. Active management through temperature control, hygiene, and targeted treatments is no longer optional. It’s essential.
Grain Protection, The Lodi Way
To help farmers tackle grain pests effectively at every stage, Lodi UK offers a targeted range of professional-grade products. For rapid control in the event of an outbreak in empty stores, Phobi Smoke Pro 90C is a high-powered insecticidal smoke treatment that penetrates deep into cracks and hard-to-reach spaces, delivering fast knockdown of flying and crawling pests. For pre-harvest preparation, K-Obiol EC provides long-lasting insecticidal protection for grain store surfaces, reducing the risk of infestations before grain even arrives. Once grain is in store, K-Obiol ULV can be applied directly to the grain, offering broad-spectrum control against storage pests throughout the season. It's best used with the K-Obiol Spray System, which is specifically designed for uniform application and low-drift efficiency. Together, this product line provides a full-circle solution for stored grain protection from store preparation through to post-harvest storage.
Final Thoughts
Grain pests won’t wait and neither should you. Clean storage, routine checks, temperature control, and strategic treatments are all essential parts of a successful post-harvest plan. With the right tools and habits, you can stay one step ahead and protect your investment well into the season.
Want to find out more about Lodi’s full Grain Store Protection range? Want to discover how you can reap the rewards of what you sow and what you grow? Click here to view all products.
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