Montana Small Grain Guide

1. Montana Small Grain Guide Pages 54-62

2. Harvesting Small Grains • Direct Cut is most common • Swathing if: • sawfly infestation • danger of frost • malting barley quality must be maintained • shattering is a problem • weed problem

3. Checking Combine Efficiency • Construct a 1 square foot frame • Cut a representative area of field • Place the frame in three or more locations in each of: • uncut grain • between front of combine and uncut grain • behind the discharge • Count the number of seeds within the frame • Average the number of seeds per sq. foot

4. Checking Combine Efficiency • 20 seeds per sq. foot = 1 bushel per acre in front of combine and under • 80 seeds per sq. foot = 1 bushel per acre behind the combine • Harvest losses should not exceed 2% of normal standing grain

5. Grain Storage • Moisture: • In winter, exterior cools, air moves down carrying heat & moisture • When air reaches bottom, moves toward center and up • When air reaches top center, moisture condenses in grain • Cycle reverses in summer

6. Grain Storage • Moisture & heat accumulate in the bottom of the bin in summer and in top in winter • These are potential sites for buildup of insects and mold • Aeration will help control temperature and prevent spoilage • Aeration does NOT dry grain

7. Aeration • Best done when weather is dry • Operate fan until cooling or warming of grain is complete • Grain for winter storage should be cooled to 30-35 deg. • Warm in spring to 50-60 deg.

8. Stored Grain Insects • 25% of farm stored grain is infested • $32 million in losses • Montana has lowest rate of infestation • Preventative Maintenance is best control

9. Preventative Maintenance • Thoroughly clean bins before filling • Repair openings or cracks • Remove weeds and trash from bin area • Spray malathion on bin walls and floors 3-4 weeks before filling • Refill empty bins rather than filling on top of old grain

10. Preventative Maintenance • Effective weed control • Adjust combines to prevent broken kernels • Add malathion when filling if moisture us 13% or more • Top-dress grain with malathion • Check bins every 2 weeks until grain is cooled • Clean up spilled grain around bin • No-Pest strip above grain

11. Preventative Maintenance • Clean grain to increase air flow • Grain distributor to spread fine & foreign material to increase air flow • Keep grain surface level to improve air flow • Start fan as soon as floor is covered • Open all roof hatches when aerating • Cover fan when not in use to prevent air circulation

12. Treatments • Fumigation if grain is above 60 deg. • Remove grain and treat as it is returned to bin • Sell grain or feed to livestock • Most insects do not feed or reproduce below 45 deg.

13. Grain Monitoring • Smell: musty odor is evident before heating, dark kernels or spoilage occurs • Poke: use a 3/8” smooth steel rod to detect hard, compact layers of grain • Probe: moisture samples from several locations, differences of 1-2 per. Pnts. Indicates problem • Check for hot spots: temp. probes • change in temp. indicates heating

14. Grain Monitoring • Build a sieve (wood frame & window screen), sift grain for insects or flour • Hollow kernels indicate weevil feeding • army worm also hollows grain in the field