Montana farmer-stockman. [volume], December 01, 1949, Page 6, Image 6

About Montana farmer-stockman. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1947-1993

Image provided by: Montana Historical Society; Helena, MT

                
We Shouldn't Have 'Em , hut We Do , So
Better Check for Bugs in Your Bins
By JACK P. CORK1NS, Assistant in "Entomology,
Montana State College
CLIMATIC CONDITIONS in Mon
tana are such that they retard the ac
tivities of most of the insects found
in farm-stored grain in this state.
The cold ^weather and normal low
moisture content of stored grain in
Montana practically prevent insect
infestations and damage.
The key to insect-free farm storage
is to keep the moisture content of the
grain below 12 to 13 percent. This
can be easily accomplished in three
steps:
1. Make frequent inspections of
the farm-stored grain for heating of
the grain (an indication of high
moisture content) and insect infesta
3. Provide adequate ventilation at
the top of the storage bin to remove
moisture from the surface layer. This
tions. Use a probe to find out what
is going on down inside.
2. Maintain the stora'ge bins so that
rain or snow cannot get inside of the
bin.
will prevent crusting on the surface
layer which would otherwise allow
the moisture content to build up.
"Weevily Wheat"
Unfortunately, whenever stored
grain insects are present in wheat,
the wheat is commonly called "weev
ily wheat." Actually, the granary
weevil appears to be the least im
portant of all the insects in Mon
tana. According to the official grain
standards, grain shall be graded
"weevily" when it contains two or
more live weevils, or one live
weevil and two or more other in
sects, or five other insects alone
(including mites), per 1,000 gram
sample of wheat.
In the fall of 1942, an inspection
tour of farm-stored grain was made
in Montana. It was found that ap
proximately one out of every seven
samples inspected was graded "weev
ily." "»bviously, we do have a farm
stored grain insect problem in this
state. It is just as obvious that the
problem would be virtually non-ex
istent if the grain was stored prop
erly.
Insects Involved
Mites—It appears that the common
grain mites are the most important
pests of farm-stored grain in Mon
tana. Actually, the mite is not an
insect, but a close relative belonging
to the group which includes ticks
and spiders. The common grain mite
has been found in Montana more
frequently than any other stored
grain pest, and in addition, it is felt
that the damage caused by this pest
is greater than the damage caused
by the other pests commonly found.
Grain mites may be associated
with grain in the field and thus
passed into the bins with the
move
ment of the grain. They may also
be carried by air currents, small ani
mals, insects, etc.
The moisture content of the grain
is of primary importance in connec
tion with the rapid reproduction of
• the mites. Temperature is^ second
ary, since they can reproduce at tem
peratures as low as 36 degrees F.
Mites build up rapidly in grain with
a moisture content of over 13 per
cent.
When they get started in a small
pocket, where conditions are favor
able, they may be able to increase
the moisture content of the sur
rounding grain by their feeding ac
tivities. This' usually results in
heated and moldy grain,
When the germ end of the kernel
is attacked by mites, the germination
is weakened and often destroyed,
However, this condition cannot be
detected with the naked eye. During
warm weather, the presence of mites
may be detected by running the
hand down into the grain, withdraw-.
ing it, and then observing it under
good light for movement of the tiny •
mites. During cold weather, samples
may be removed, sifted, "and the dust
and screenings warmed to room tem
perature. The dust and screenings
can then be examined with the aid
of a magnifying glass to determine
the presence or absence of mites.
Bran Bugs—The group commonly
known as bran bugs includes the for
eign grain beetle, the flat grain
beetle, the confused flour beetle, and
the saw-tooth grain beetle. It is
thought that the foreign grain beetle
lives largely on fungus and mold, and
that it is associated only with mold
ing, out-of-condition grain.
The other three bran bugs are
thought to feed largely on cracked
or otherwise, broken down grain . . .
that is, grain which does not have a
firm outer covering. However, this
may not always be the case. There
is some evidence that under certain
conditions, some of the bran bugs
may be able to damage sound ker
nel wheat by entering the germ.
It has been noted in Montana that
bram bugs generally appear to be
associated with grain which has
either been previously attacked by
mites or is otherwise out of condi
tion. There may be exceptions to
this situation.
Granary Weevil — The granary
weevil is seldom found in grain with
a moisture content below 13 percent.
In the past, this insect has not fre
quently been found in farm-stored
grain in Montana. The damage
caused by the*granary weevil is eas
ily distinguished. The larva (worm)
or grub hollow out the kernel leav
ing only the outside shell pierced by
a small round hole.
The adult granary weevil is readily
distinguished from bran bugs by the
shape of its head, which is elongated
into a snout. These weevils cannot
fly, and therefore, must be trans
ported into the granary. Granary
weevils are thought to be more fre
quently found in grain elevators.
Therefore, caution should be exer
cised in transporting stored grain,
seed, etc., from elevators for farm
use.
Conirol Measures
The most economical and certainly
the most desirable control of these
pests infesting farm-stored grains
can be brought about by proper stor
age conditions—moisture-tight bins,
plenty of surface ventilation—and by
frequently inspecting the grain.
Once established, the average infes
tations can be controlled by either
cleaning the grain in a fan mill, or
turning all of the grain in weather
below 40 degrees F. The principal
in the latter practice is that of intro
ducing temperatures into the grain
below which the pests are active.
In most cases, it is virtually im
possible to run the grain through a
fan mill or turn it in cold weather.
Consequently, when severe infesta
tions do occur, fumigation may be
necessary. Before fumigating, the
pockets or cores of heated or wet
grain should be removed from the
bins.
able commercial fumigants should
be reliable and they should contain
0 ne or more of the following ma
terials: Ethylene dichloride, propy
lene dichloride, carbon tetrachloride,
methyl bromide.
Usually, a prepared fumigant will
be purchased and the instructions
which are contained on the label
should be followed. Most of the avail
Warning: Fumigants are danger
ous. Don't inhale the fumes. Ex
treme care must be used to keep
from breathing the dangerous vap
ors. The safest method is to wear a
proper type of gas mask when
handling . or applying fumigants.
Don't spill the liquid on your cloth
ing or hands.
■
of
Speed Urged on
Basin Program
ACCELERATION of the Missouri
basin program under the Pick-Sloan
plan was urged and creation of re
gional valley authorities was op
posed in resolutions adopted by the
Montana Reclamation Assn, al its
seventh annual meeting held in
Bozeman, Nov. 13-15.
In line with the basin develop
ment, the group
also urged the
president and
congress to "de
clare that irriga- j
tion projects con
structed by states
in a river basin be
considered a part' \
of the basin plan j
development j
and shall be en- i
titled to the same
credit and assistance . . . rendered to
Bergeson
the larger federal projects.
Another resolution directed the
president of the association to name
a committee to work with the state
engineer and state water board to
obtain a complete record of all
water rights in the state.
Bergeson Elected President
O. A. Bergeson, Dillon, was elect
ed president of the association, suc
ceeding George Ebner of Fairfield.
Axel Persson of Sidney was elected
vice president and H. L. Buck of
Billings was re-elected secretary
treasurer.
Gladwin Young, field representa
tive of the department of agricul
ture, summarizing the department's
special report, "Missouri River Basin
Agricultural Program," character
ized it as a great new landmark in
the west, the multibillion dollar, 30
year plan for development of the
Missouri river basin. He reported
that about 40 percent of the con
struction authorized under the Pick
Sloan plan, or $1,600,000,000 worth
is now under way.
Value of and need for develop
ment of the area, he pointed out, is
indicated by the fact that it includes
25.8 percent of the total crop land
»I
of the United States but now in
cludes only 8.9 percent of the total
farm population.
Bonner Speaks
At the opening general session
Gov. John Bonner spoke on "Pro
tecting and Developing Montana's
Water Resources," and reports were
given by R. J. McKenna, chairman
of the state production and market
ing administration committee; Mey
er Wolfe of the regional forest of
fice at Missoula; Truman Anderson,
director, Montana soil conservation
service; Clyde McKee, dean of the
Montana State college agricultural
experiment .station, and James A.
Keane, Montana director, farmers
home administration.
Other speakers on the convention
program were A. E. Reigel, Helena,
past president of the Montana Wild
life federation; Milton C. Simpson,
Volberg, president of the Montana
Stockgrowers Assn.; Col. Richard
Lee, Fort Peck district engineer, and
William E. Welsh, secretary-man
ager, National Reclamation Assn.,
Washington, D. C.
Further Resolutions
In other resolutions the Montana
association urged the bureau of rec
lamation to provide irrigation pump
ing units constructed by the state
water board with the same rate for
power as is charged to federal proj
ects.
Expressed concern over the small
acreage planted to sugar beets in re
cent years and urged the secretary
of agriculture to administer the
sugar act of 1948 so as to encourage
the domestic sugar beet industry to
produce the full amount of the stat
utory quota of 1,800,000 tons of beet
sugar established by the said act.
Urged the state legislature and
congress to produce sufficient funds
to permit adequate surveys of sur
face and ground waters.
Concurred in the directive of the
senate appropriations committee, di
recting the bureau of reclamation to
continue and expand its program of
co-operation with western state col
leges and department of agriculture
agencies in connection with the
planning, construction and operation
of reclamation projects.
Expressed appreciation to the
Montana congressional delegation
for services rendered to water and
power development in Montana.
A resolution was passed recogniz
ing the work in the association by
W. F. Flinn, manager of the Miles
City Star, who died recently in
Miles City.
tee were Clarence Popham of Cor
vallis and Carl J. Stenhjem of
Brady.
McGowan Heads
SCS Group
GORDON McGOWAN of High
wood was re-elected president of
the Montana Association of Soil
Conservation districts by the board
of directors at the closing session
of the organization's eighth annual
meeting in Bozeman, Nov. 16-18.
Ray Kimball of Hysham, who has
been a member of the executive
committee, was named vice presi
dent and delegate to the national
convention to be held this winter
at Atlanta, Ga. Re-elected for the
coming year were Fred Sanborn of
Great Falls, treasurer, and M. P.
Hansmeier, Bozeman, secretary.
Elected to the executive commit-