How to Kill Bugs in Feed Corn
By Kristi Waterworth
How to Kill Bugs in Feed Cornthumbnail Feed corn is a grade below corn labled for human consumption.
After you’ve taken the care to keep insects out of your corn crop for the whole growing season, it is frustrating to discover that bugs have found your corn stores and invaded. When prevention has failed, the only remaining solution is to kill the bugs. A hobby farmer with only a few bags of corn may opt to simply throw the corn away or sift through the storage facility to pick out insects, but a farmer with a big operation must treat his feed corn in order to kill the bugs.
Topic To Kill Bugs in Feed Corn:
- Flying Bugs
To Kill Bugs in Feed Corn Difficulty:
- Moderate
To Kill Bugs in Feed Corn You’ll Need:
- None
To Kill Bugs in Feed Corn Instructions:
- Level the top of the grain bin without compressing the feed corn. Apply an approved grain protectant such as Bacillius thuringiensis, pyrethrin or plain diatomaceous earth to the top layer of corn according to package directions. Coat the top of the corn completely to eliminate and prevent top-feeding insects.
- Suspend dichlorvos-impregnated strips in the open spaces above the grain from spring to fall. Use one strip per 1,000 square feet of air space to catch moths before they can lay eggs in the feed corn.
- Seal the grain bin as tightly as possible before attempting fumigation, since maximum gas retention is vital to success. Use phosphine tablets according to the package directions, being sure to allow for empty head space. Insert tablets with a probe, applying tablets at 12-inch intervals, with the last tablet 6 inches below the surface of the corn. Divide the bin mentally into quarters and apply tablets to the most-difficult-to-reach corner first, moving toward the easiest corner. Insert tablets beginning at the bottom and work your way toward the top.
- Only licensed fumigators can purchase phosphine. Check with your local extension office for licensing requirements. If you are uncomfortable working around potentially dangerous fumes, hire a professional.
- Always use respiratory protection when working with chemicals in a closed space. Use an approved monitor for the chemical you are using to determine when it is safe to re-enter the feed corn bin.