Grain storage treatments seek to replace Actellic

Suppliers are queuing up to offer alternative grain storage treatments after Syngenta’s decided to withdraw its recommendation covering Actellic 50EC (pirimiphos-methyl) with effect from 31 January.

A liquid grain storage treatment fully approved by millers and maltsters has become the only product on the market with no usage restrictions, according to Nickerson Direct.

Delivered to farms by the company, K-Obiol is a modern pyrethroid formulation containing Deltamethrin, synergised with piperonyl-butoxide, for long-term control of stored product insect pests known to infect UK grain and pulses.

A single treatment can provide up to 12 months protection against re-infection. Fully-approved by millers and maltsters, it can be used for pre-harvest treatment of the fabric of buildings which are used to store grain, as well as the grain itself.

Alastair Moore of Nickerson Direct said: “Farmers have very little choice in terms of the products which are used in grain stores. This is currently the only multi-purpose product available.”

K-Obiol is available in two formulations. The first, EC25, was fast-acting, killing pests within hours of application and allowing flexible movement of grain out of store, said Mr Moore.

The second formulation, ULV 6, was a ready-to-use treatment for grain going into store using bespoke application equipment. It offered greater convenience and a saving in labour, making it more suitable for larger cereal growers.

But Interfarm UK says the biophysical product Silico-Sec, derived from diatomaceous earth, will also ably fill the gap left by Actellic 50EC and brings additional benefits, including operator safety and no resistance problems.

“The absorbent silica in Silico-Sec damages the outside cuticles of insects and mites, removing water-proofing waxes and resulting in desiccation and death of the pests,” said technical manager David Stormonth.

“It is a proven, non-chemical method of controlling a wide range of insect grain pests, including grain weevils, saw-toothed grain beetles, red-rust flour beetles, cosmopolitan food mites, flour mites and the larvae of the cosmopolitan flour moth in store.”

Because it was a biophysical product, Silico-Sec had none of the issues of operator safety or resistance often associated with chemical-based treatments.  It was a natural, non-toxic alternative, said Dr Stormonth.