One of the most critical roles of the food manufacturing industry is to deliver food that is not only of good quality but is safe to eat.

Being aware of food safety risks and hazards at an early stage of production, not only can save on costs and time, but it helps to improve public health and build consumer confidence.

Grain growers are increasingly turning their attention to the benefits of operating an on-farm grain protein analyser to maximise their profit. 

The UK Food Standards Agency recently launched a survey of "may contain" labelling, the blight of many allergic consumers.  Such labelling has a huge impact on the lifestyles of such consumers, with the allergic shopper taking an average of 40% longer to shop, and an additional 10% in costs.  The ‘may contain’ survey is a move towards setting much-needed allergen action levels for industry.

Aeration cooling for pest control

Grain aeration provides growers with a powerful tool to maintain grain quality during harvest and storage. Aeration cooling may not eliminate the need for chemical insect control, but it will dramatically slow insect development.

Hygiene and structural treatments for grain storages

When it comes to controlling pests in stored grain — prevention is better than cure.  Grain residues in storages or older grain stocks held over from last season provide ideal breeding sites. Meticulous grain hygiene combined with structural treatments, such as inert dusts and slurries, can play a key role in reducing the number of stored grain pests.

Pressure testing sealable silos

Fumigating with phosphine in unsealed silos does not kill pests at all stages of their life cycle. Repeat fumigations in unsealed silos increases resistance levels and selects for insects with a higher phosphine tolerance. Pressure testing a silo ensures it can hold gas concentrations sufficient to kill all insects at all life stages.

Western Region:  Stored grain pests — identification

In a deregulated grain market, on-farm storage is now more popular then ever before.  But finding insects crawling up the sides of your grain hopper while loading a truck is frustrating and costly to manage. Regular monitoring is the first step to ensure delivery of insect-free grain to market.

Northern and Southern regions:  Stored grain pests — identification

In a deregulated grain market, on-farm storage is now more popular then ever before.  But finding insects crawling up the sides of your grain hopper while loading a truck is frustrating and costly to manage. Regular monitoring and correct pest identification are the first steps to ensure delivery of insect-free grain to market.

Western region: Grain storage pest control guide

Prevention is better than cure:  The combination of meticulous grain hygiene plus well-managed aeration cooling generally overcomes 85 per cent of storage pest problems.  For grain storage, three key factors provide significant gains for both grain storage pest control and grain quality – hygiene, aeration cooling and correct
fumigation.

Northern and Southern regions Grain storage pest control guide

The tolerance for live pests in grain sold off farm is nil. With growers increasing the amount of grain stored on farm, an integrated approach to pest control is crucial.
 
Prevention is better than cure The combination of meticulous grain hygiene plus well-managed aeration cooling generally overcomes 85 per cent of storage pest problems.  For grain storage, three key factors provide significant gains for both grain storage pest control and grain quality – hygiene, aeration cooling and correct
fumigation.