There’s no worse feeling in the grain storage world than opening up your grain bins after a few months to discover a gigantic pest infestation. Luckily, there are several ways to prevent and deal with pests along the way. Read on to learn a few effective tips for dealing with pests in your grain storage containers.

Prepare Bins Before Storage

Before you put any grain in your bins, you can take a few steps to ensure a cleaner environment. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and that is certainly true here—nipping pests in the bud is your best bet. Once your bins are empty for the year, do an initial thorough cleaning of all your equipment.

When you’ve finished, make sure all cracks are patched and treat bins with insecticides. This means everything from the interior to the exterior to the underside of your bins—treat your other grain handling equipment too. The next infestation could come from anywhere, so best be prepared.

Fill Bins Properly

When you fill your bins, be sure to avoid overfilling or not leveling your grain. These are easy mistakes to make, so make a checklist you follow every time you add new grain to a bin. Following these guidelines helps create an unpleasant environment for pests, as does keeping your grain between 40 and 43 degrees Fahrenheit.

Fumigation (If Absolutely Necessary)

Once the grain is in your bins, after it has moved through your grain handling system, do your best to avoid fumigation. If it’s absolutely necessary, you can resort to fumigation to solve the problem. However, remember that proper bin hygiene and aeration are your first lines of defense.

Now that you know these effective tips for dealing with pests in your grain storage containers, keep your grain safe and get ready to breathe a sigh of relief.