Wet harvest conditions across parts of the Prairies have put added focus on how cereal grain is managed in storage. Cool, wet weather has slowed harvest progress in some areas, with reports of tough cereals and grain quality concerns. For growers bringing grain off at higher moisture levels, careful drying, cooling and monitoring will be especially important this fall.
Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin that can develop in stored cereal grain when moisture and temperature conditions are favourable for fungal growth. Unlike deoxynivalenol (DON), which develops in the field as a result of Fusarium infection, OTA develops during storage. Grain stored above safe moisture levels, condensation or water entering the bin, contaminated dust or soil, and residues from previously stored grain can all contribute to OTA development.
Even a small pocket of damp grain can create problems. That means managing the entire grain mass, not just relying on an average moisture reading.
Make Storage Management a Priority
For growers, preventing OTA is also important for maintaining market options. Some export markets have strict OTA limits, making proper drying, cooling and monitoring important for protecting the quality and marketability of stored grain.
Here are some tips for managing grain at higher moisture levels:
- Get grain dry. Harvest or dry cereals to safe moisture levels for storage as soon as possible. Avoid mixing tough or damp grain with dry grain, as localized areas of higher moisture can create conditions for fungal growth and OTA development.
- Cool it quickly. Use aeration to bring grain temperatures down quickly and uniformly. Ideally, cool grain to well below 10°C and, as outside temperatures fall, below 0°C. Keeping grain cold also helps reduce condensation and slow fungal growth.
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