Because temperature relates to the growth and development of biological organisms, calculating degree days can be used to predict the presence and development of many pests and plants. This is the average daily temperature. Then take the average daily temperature minus base temperature to get degree days. Degree days calculated for March 1 through July 30 for several locations in Montana. If your hold-over stocks have insects, consider carefully whether or not you want to risk the use of a grain protectant.
Grain purchased by Japan requires zero pesticide residues.
Our Australian competitors, particularly for the Japanese grain market, are now prohibiting farmers from applying protectants and requiring the farmers to convert their grain bins to controlled atmosphere storage facilities. Even if foreign or specialty markets are not the destination of your hold-over grain, think carefully about using a protectant. If you have not had problems with insects in the past, avoid it, as protectant pesticides kill beneficial insects and build the percentage of individual destructive insects resistant to the protectant. In one year, a producer may have storage insect problems and will need to have those beneficial storage insects and that genetic sensitivity to protectants in their destructive insect population. If applying a protectant seems to fit your needs, proceed only if there is an insect problem detected by trapping in your bins.