These include sanitation, application of residual insecticides to the structural surfaces and grain, temperature control through aeration, moisture control through drying, frequent grain and pest sampling, grain cleaning and low-impact handling, biological agents, and fumigants. Farmers and elevator managers are in a unique position to apply integrated stored-grain management programs successfully, if they take advantage of the ability to control the critical system parameters such as grain temperature and moisture content, storage time, market destination, and pest movement into their facilities. To maintain quality grain in storage, the storage environment must prevent the growth of microorganisms and insects. The most important management factors include temperature, moisture, length of storage, and the condition of the grain when placed in storage. One of the primary management practices to maintain quality is aeration.
Aeration generally utilizes ambient air.
However, an alternative gaining popularity is chilled aeration, which allows for cooling independent of the ambient conditions at any time of the year. For aeration to be successful, the grain has to be level and at moisture contents safe for storage because normal airflow in storage bins, silos, and flats is not enough to dry the grain. Tables 1 and 2 summarize recommended maximum moisture contents for aerated grain storage in Indiana and the recommended airflow rates in upright and flat storages. Most storage problems result from improperly cooling the grain in the storage bin. The most common mistake is to stop running the aeration fan before the cooling front has moved through the entire grain pile.