Farm Buildings – December 2020

Grain pests

We would recommend that growers monitor grain temperature regularly – not cooling during winter may be due to pest activity heating the grain. Spear thermometers kept continually in each bin when checked regularly for any fluctuations in temperature can identify problems. In addition, check regularly for pests on the floor around bins and on outer bin walls, and between and in the folds of any sacks of grain. If possible, turn the bin contents during the winter to prevent the build up of mites in the moist upper layer, and make use of probe traps and pitfall traps to monitor for pests.

Vermin control

As the weather is starting to get colder, vermin such as rats and mice will be looking for somewhere to spend the winter indoors, and nowhere is better than a farm building that might have grain or other foodstuffs in plentiful supply. Buildings can be made vermin-proof by sealing off any points of entry and setting traps to catch any rats or mice that may have already pitched up for the winter. Consider children and domestic animals if using rat poisons.