THERMOSTATICALLY CONTROLLED AERATION FOR INSECT CONTROL IN STORED HARD RED WINTER WHEAT

Abstract

Stored-grain insects are a principal cause of deterioration in stored hard red winter wheat. Automaticaeration controllers were used to cool hard red winter wheat immediately after summer harvest to control insects. Graincooling early in the storage season resulted in the insect populations being controlled when adequate sanitation waspracticed. Significantly greater insect populations and more grain damage occurred when the grain was not cooled untilOctober. Negative-pressure aeration maintained a cooler temperature at the grain surface area during aeration cyclesthan did positive-pressure aeration (moving air upward through the grain).