World Grain - August 2018 - 80

FEATURE: BE PROACTIVE WITH FSMA

the immature stages are inside the individual kernels
of grain. The only visual cue you will get is when
you see the adults after they emerge. They're only
about a tenth of an inch long. From egg to adult,
these pests only take about 25 days to mature under
ideal conditions. Also, look for distinctive holes in
the kernels where the adults have chewed out.
6RWKHLGHQWL¿HGKD]DUGLVWKHOHVVHUJUDLQERUHUV
the next step is the preventive controls. They prefer warmer temperatures and about 12% moisture,
so maintaining a cooler, relatively dry environment,
won't be as conducive. Monitoring is also a good
idea, which can be done by sampling, visual inspections, and placing pheromone traps strategically
around your product. Finally, if you had an infestation in the past, you've probably already performed
some corrective actions and you'll want to continue
ongoing monitoring to verify pest levels. And don't
forget to write it all down.
INDIAN MEAL MOTHS
:LWK D ZLQJVSDQ RI URXJKO\ ¿YHHLJKWKV RI DQ LQFK
Indian meal moths aren't as tough to spot as lesser grain
borers, but they'll still infest products if allowed access.
&DWHJRUL]HGDVH[WHUQDOIHHGHUVWKH\ZLOOIHHGRQEURNHQ
and milled grain. The larvae are the destructive stage and
they spin a messy silken web that gums up food particles.
They prefer humid conditions, and their presence encourages the growth of mold. To properly address this pest,
make sure your preventative controls include inspecting all incoming shipments. And don't forget exclusion,
Indian meal moths have a native population on the outside, so don't let them in. Use monitors to track populaWLRQVDQG¿QGKRWVSRWVWKHQSODQFRUUHFWLYHDFWLRQVOLNH
installing mating disruption or spot treatments. Keep an
eye on the monitors to verify if your treatments and other
corrective actions are working. Keep up on that documentation so you have a record of all your hard work.

Measures must be taken to ensure stored grain isn't damaged by
insects such as the maize weevil. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Services.

WKHPEHIRUHWKH\FDQJHWWRSURGXFW:KHUH\RX¿QGKLJK
numbers of rodents in your monitoring plan could point
you to sanitation issues. If your facility isn't clean, take
FRUUHFWLYH DFWLRQV WR PLQLPL]H VSLOODJH DQG SRWHQWLDOO\
clean up water sources a rodent could get to in order to
PLQLPL]HSRWHQWLDODWWUDFWDQWV9HULI\EDVHGRQEDLWHDWHQ
and numbers trapped, that you have devices in the optimal
spots; you may need to shift them around.
With any pest, keep in mind how the pest management
strategies you're implementing will need to be reevaluated and adjusted. Conditions in and around your site
ZLOO FKDQJH DQG \RXU SODQ VKRXOG EH PRGL¿HG WRR ,I
you document all your efforts, then you will have a good
base of knowledge on pest trends in your facility and how
RODENTS
to respond.
You might see them sneaking around in a corn bin. Or
Staying up to date on the latest pest issues affecting
hear them hiding out in the walls or ceiling. Rodents are your facility is critical to demonstrate a proactive apUHVLOLHQWDQGFOHYHUVRLIWKH\FDQ¿QGIRRGZDWHUDQG proach. That's where documentation is necessary. It isn't
shelter, they'll stick around. They tend to stay out of sight enough to simply implement a pest management program
whenever possible, but they'll come out of hiding to feed - you must prove it.
on grain products and leave behind a trail of feces and
Keep these documents on hand so you can remain auurine. Aside from the contamination they leave behind, dit-ready any time:
rodents can also carry disease-causing pathogens.
x Food safety plan. The most critical record to keep
To keep rodents out of your facility focus on prevenon hand. Language added under HARPC says faciltive controls that are based on exclusion tactics like sealities now need to hold suppliers accountable as well,
ing cracks and crevices around the exterior. Monitor usso keep careful records of incoming shipments in
ing bait stations and traps to reduce populations and stop
addition to the documentation of all preventive ac80

August 2018 / World Grain / www.World-Grain.com

http://www.World-Grain.com

World Grain - August 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of World Grain - August 2018