Is fumigation necessary if grain is properly cooled?
If grain temperatures are reduced to 40F or lower uniformly throughout the grain mass, insects feeding and reproduction will be stopped. Uniform grain temperatures of 50F will shut down reproduction and slow feeding. Grain temperatures of 60F will greatly reduce feeding and breeding. However, if grain is not cooled before insect populations become very large, or if there are a large number of primary insects (grain damaging insects) such as lesser grain borer (LGB), rice weevil (RW) or Indian meal moth (IMM), then grain should be fumigated, then cooled. If grain is aerated and cooled after large insect populations develop, fumigants may not react properly in the cold grain, so the fumigation may not be satisfactory.
