Grain workshop at Lubeck hall

A hands-on grain storage workshop on Monday will provide growers in Lubeck and surrounding districts with free advice ahead of this season’s harvest.

The two-hour session, organised by Agriculture Victoria and the Lubeck Landcare Group, will start with breakfast at Lubeck Memorial Hall and presentations, from 8am, followed by a visit to a district farm.

Agriculture Victoria primary business consultant Chris Warrick said grain storage was not often at the forefront of growers’ minds during winter, but now was the time for them to plan ahead for harvest.

“Growers need to start thinking about grain storage options now,” he said.

“For example, you might want to buy more storage or improve your measures for preventing pest infestations.”

Mr Warrick, who is also Grains Research and Development Corporation’s national Grain Storage Project coordinator, said weevils that survive during winter in stored grain are ready to re-infest the next crop, leading to the risk of new season’s grain being rejected by the buyer.

He said the workshop would cover several topics, including improving older storage facilities, buying new storage, aeration cooling for pest control, hygiene and structural treatments, grain protectants, fumigation and dealing with insects, and storing grain with high moisture content.

People can call Tony Fay, Agriculture Victoria, on 0427 347 403 or Peter Taylor, Lubeck Landcare, on 0429 986 721 for more information.

To register, visit website war_on_weevils_lubeck. eventbrite.com.au.