This project will assess phosphine fumigation efficacy against resistant insects in cool grain (aerated or naturally cooled) and make recommendations to Australia's grain storage industry. It will keep Australia's grain export industry free from insect strains resistant to phosphine.

What is the biosecurity problem?

Increasing applications of phosphine to stored grain in silos that leak, or grain stored under the wrong conditions, has caused problems with insect pests building up resistance. Proof is needed to show whether phosphine fumigation of cool grain is effective in controlling resistant biotypes of insect pests of stored grain.

The main outputs of this project are to:

• provide reports describing new data on phosphine efficacy at low temperature against resistant grain insects.
• provide reports describing new data on phosphine sorption by grain.
• provide reports describing new data on phosphine fumigation of cool grain in sealed farm silos.
• make recommendations to farmers and others within the grain industry.

Who will be the end-users of this research?

Recommendations on phosphine fumigation of cool grain will be reported to representatives of grain industry and national extension network at annual meeting of National Working Party on Grain Protection. Results, recommendations and technology transfer will be provided to the Australian grain industry via the National Working Party on Grain Protection (NWPGP) and other industry publications. CRC partners, bulk grain storage operators and handlers will be informed of the findings.