Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 17, Number 46, DeMotte, Jasper County, 10 October 1947 — Weevil Giving Bin Grain ‘Working Over’ [ARTICLE]

Weevil Giving Bin Grain ‘Working Over’

Damage Greater Than Usual This Year Due To High Moisture Content Many bins of stored grain are being damaged by weevil and other insects that attach grain in storage, according to reports from G. E. Lehker, Purdue University extension entomologist. Damage is greater than usual this year because a comparatively large amount of grain was stored .with a high moisture content, and insect infestation and moisture content of the grain go hand in hand. Lehker recommendes hat farmers having stored grain, examine it immediately to determine if the weevil is present. If the grain is infested, it is comparatively easy to fumigate the bins and stop the damage before extensive losses occur. Among the best /materials for grain fumigation are carbon bisulphide and trade name materials containing a mixture of ethylene dichloride and carbon tetrachr> loride. Carbon bisulphide is highly effective but should not be used in the presence of fire or sparks in any form since it is highly inflamable. If proper precautions are observed, however, there is no great danger connected with its use. Carbon bisulphide should be applied at the rate of one gallon for each 333 bushels of grain. This amount should be used regardless of any recommendations to the contrary which may be found on the contatiner label. The liquid is sprinkled over the surface and the grain covered with a canvas and allowed to fumigate for 24 hours. In the case of deep bins where the grain is over five feet deep it is desirable to inject a part of the liquid into the grain by means of a screancapped pipe pushed down at several points. Carbin bisulphide has a foul oder but this will disappear within a short time. The ethylene dichloride-carbon tetrachloride, mixtures' are available from dealers under various trade names. They have the advantage of being non-inflamable but must be used dt the rate of about two gallons per 333 bushels to give effective control. It is used in the same manner as carbon bisulphide. Neither of these funigants has any effect on the germination or feeding quality of grain. Complete instructions for using fumigants are given in Purdue Extension Leaflet 224 which is availably from County Agent, J. A. Carroll.