How to clean and prepare a grain store

Thorough grain store preparation and hygiene help to eliminate sources of contamination from storage fungi, insects and mites. Use these checklists to help ready and monitor the health of your stores.

An integrated pest management (IPM) approach

Insects and mites are most likely to be introduced from the store structure and equipment. Even small quantities of grain provide a food source, allowing pest problems to build. It is also essential to manage rodent populations.

However, cleaning alone does not eliminate all pests in empty stores, nor will pesticide treatment. The key to safe storage of grain is to use an integrated pest management (IPM) approach to prevent, monitor/detect and control any issues.

Pre-harvest store preparation checklist

Action	ü
Inspect/repair areas of potential water ingress (e.g. external fans, guttering and roofs)
Check that the store is proofed against rodent and bird entry
Ensure there is adequate space above grain for ventilation
Test/maintain equipment
Use shatter-resistant bulbs and fit shatter-proof light covers
Know the storage history (e.g. livestock housing or potato storage)
Clean the store and equipment thoroughly
Set up insect traps and rodent bait boxes

Use an industrial vacuum cleaner to remove debris, including from harder-to-reach areas. Conveyor systems may harbour relatively large amounts of the storage fungus Penicillium verrucosum. Ensure rubbish, including vacuum-cleaner contents, is removed and disposed of well away from the store.

Use appropriate food-approved disinfectant/sanitiser and leave to dry before storing grain. The permitted cleaning products and previous store uses may depend on supply chain restrictions – check for approval and suitability before use.

Use of insect traps

Place insect traps, such as pitfall cone traps, floor traps and bait bags, in corners and at wall/floor junctions every 4–5 metres around the store. Check them weekly. If stored product insects or mites are found, place additional traps to pinpoint the source of the infestation. Further hygiene measures may help eliminate the source.

Rodent management in and around stores

The presence of rats and mice, in and around grain stores, may result in losses to grain and grain quality, and damage to buildings and machinery. As part of a rodent-management plan, always:

Use secure, commercially approved bait boxes
Have a sufficient number of baiting points
Note the locations of bait boxes
Record bait quantities
Place bait boxes outside the store
Prevent bait contamination of grain
Minimise exposure to non-target animals
Collect and dispose of dead rodents
Inspect regularly
Remove bait at the end of the treatment

For information on rodent-bait use, visit the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use (CRRU) website.

Store preparation: hazards and management

Key hazards	Risk score	Management
Key hazards	Risk score	Preventative measures	Monitoring procedures	Corrective actions
Fungi with potential to cause mycotoxins	**	Clean equipment and store	Inspect cleanliness	Targeted cleaning
Insects and mites	**	Clean equipment and store	Use traps	Apply pesticide at recommended rate
Pesticide residues	*	Use approved products in recommended manner	Check records of pesticide application	Review applications and practices
Rodents and rodent faeces	*	Clean store, remove (where possible) potential places of shelter and prevent entry	Check for rodent presence	Use rodenticides in recommended manner; targeted cleaning and proofing
Birds and bird faeces	*	Clean store and prevent entry	Check for bird presence	Targeted cleaning and proofing
Glass	*	Glass control procedures	Check for compliance with procedures	Remove and replace or protect glass

HACCP risk rating: *** high risk, ** medium risk, * low risk

What is HACCP?

Tim Scrivener

Topics:

Storage Cereals & Oilseeds Wheat Barley Oilseed Rape

Sectors:

Cereals & Oilseeds

Tags:

grain storage storage grain harvest cooling spoilage drying long-term storage rodents