Issues and Challenges in Implementing Stored Grain Integrated (Insect) Pest Management Programs in the US Bhadriraju Subramanyam (Subi) Department of Grain.

Issues and Challenges in Issues and Challenges in Implementing Stored Grain Implementing Stored Grain

Integrated (Insect) Pest Integrated (Insect) Pest Management Programs in the Management Programs in the

USUS

Bhadriraju Subramanyam (Subi)Bhadriraju Subramanyam (Subi)Department of Grain Science and Department of Grain Science and

IndustryIndustryKansas State UniversityKansas State UniversityManhattan, KS 66506Manhattan, KS 66506

[email protected]@ksu.edu

Presented at the 9Presented at the 9thth International Working Conference on International Working Conference on Stored-Product Protection, 15-18 October 2006, Campinas, BrazilStored-Product Protection, 15-18 October 2006, Campinas, Brazil

Farm storage Flour millFarm storage Flour mill

Country ElevatorCountry Elevator Livestock Livestock

Terminal ElevatorTerminal Elevator

Export ConsumerExport Consumer

Grain (Wheat) Flow PatternsGrain (Wheat) Flow Patterns

IPM toolsIPM tools• Bin/silo sanitation Bin/silo sanitation • Residual products for empty structuresResidual products for empty structures• Grain sanitationGrain sanitation• Use of grain spreaders, leveling, coringUse of grain spreaders, leveling, coring• Application of a protectantApplication of a protectant• Temperature monitoringTemperature monitoring• Grain turningGrain turning• Exclusion practicesExclusion practices• Biological controlBiological control• FumigationFumigation• Many of the tactics are underutilized by Many of the tactics are underutilized by

producers (farmers) and commercial grain producers (farmers) and commercial grain managersmanagers

The true meaning of IPMThe true meaning of IPM

• Use of multiple tactics that are Use of multiple tactics that are compatiblecompatible

• Use of sampling information for Use of sampling information for decision-making (treat or fail to decision-making (treat or fail to treat)treat)

• Use of insecticides as a last resortUse of insecticides as a last resort• Evaluation of costs and benefits of Evaluation of costs and benefits of

tactics usedtactics used

Management of insects in stored grain Management of insects in stored grain on the farm and in the marketing on the farm and in the marketing system is with insecticides system is with insecticides (protectants and fumigants)(protectants and fumigants)

Pesticide Use on Wheat – USDA-Pesticide Use on Wheat – USDA-National Ag. Statistics Service National Ag. Statistics Service

Survey 1997Survey 1997

14 states surveyed; 1956 reports; 82% of US production in the marketing system

USDA-NASS SurveyUSDA-NASS Survey1997 Crop1997 Crop

• Did not include on-farm usageDid not include on-farm usage• 3.6 billion bushels of wheat 3.6 billion bushels of wheat

handled in the 14 states surveyedhandled in the 14 states surveyed• 14.21% of wheat treated with 14.21% of wheat treated with

insecticidesinsecticides• 175,300 lb of insecticides applied175,300 lb of insecticides applied

USDA-NASS SurveyUSDA-NASS Survey

• Aluminum phosphide (Phosphine)Aluminum phosphide (Phosphine) 11.56% 11.56%• Chlorpyrifos-methyl (Reldan)Chlorpyrifos-methyl (Reldan) 1.35% 1.35%• Lindane (seed treatments)Lindane (seed treatments) 0.02% 0.02%• MalathionMalathion 1.47% 1.47%• Methyl bromideMethyl bromide 0.35% 0.35%• Diatomaceous earthDiatomaceous earth 0.22% 0.22%

Pesticide Residues in Pesticide Residues in WheatWheat

• USDA’s Pesticide Data ProgramUSDA’s Pesticide Data Program• Started 1991Started 1991

– Respond to food safety and marketing Respond to food safety and marketing concernsconcerns

– Protect public healthProtect public health– Provide data to the EPA to assess Provide data to the EPA to assess

dietary risks posed by pesticidesdietary risks posed by pesticides

USDA’s PDP Data, 1995USDA’s PDP Data, 1995

600 samples were analyzed for residues

309 out of 340 samples (91%) had pesticide residues

USDA’s PDP Data, USDA’s PDP Data, 19961996

USDA’s PDP Data, 1997USDA’s PDP Data, 1997

500 out of 623 samples (80%) had pesticide residues

Conflicts between surveysConflicts between surveys

• NASS survey shows only 15% of grain was NASS survey shows only 15% of grain was treatedtreated

• PDP surveys show 80-91% of the grain had PDP surveys show 80-91% of the grain had detectable residuesdetectable residues

• 1) A substantial amount of farm-stored grain1) A substantial amount of farm-stored grain

was treatedwas treated• 2) A high degree of blending occurred during 2) A high degree of blending occurred during

marketing and detectable residues were marketing and detectable residues were transferred to all of the bulktransferred to all of the bulk

Possible reasons why we do Possible reasons why we do not have viable IPM programsnot have viable IPM programs

Hard and agonizing factsHard and agonizing facts

• Fewer institutions involved in stored grain Fewer institutions involved in stored grain researchresearch– Purdue, Oklahoma State University, Kansas Purdue, Oklahoma State University, Kansas

State University, USDA, Grain Marketing & State University, USDA, Grain Marketing & Production Research CenterProduction Research Center

– Entomologists, Ag. Engineers, Mycologists, Ag. Entomologists, Ag. Engineers, Mycologists, Ag. EconomistsEconomists

• Fewer people involved in stored grain Fewer people involved in stored grain extensionextension– Direct link to end users is missing, unless you Direct link to end users is missing, unless you

are working on a research projectare working on a research project– Decreased extension funding over the yearsDecreased extension funding over the years

Research projects have a Research projects have a narrow focusnarrow focus

• Research on insect management is limited to a Research on insect management is limited to a single option single option

• Most research “ideas” are funding driven, and not Most research “ideas” are funding driven, and not necessarily identified by the “end-users”necessarily identified by the “end-users”

• Emphasis on publications rather than on altering Emphasis on publications rather than on altering bad practices followed by grain managersbad practices followed by grain managers

• Research is not implemented as “end-user Research is not implemented as “end-user managed trials” (no stakeholder input)managed trials” (no stakeholder input)

• Some integrated projects (combining 2 tactics)Some integrated projects (combining 2 tactics)• Some success stories to reduce number of Some success stories to reduce number of

fumigations-but still reliance is on insecticidesfumigations-but still reliance is on insecticides– Oklahoma State UniversityOklahoma State University– Areawide projectAreawide project

Technology transferTechnology transfer

• Our pest profile has not changed in more Our pest profile has not changed in more than 30 yearsthan 30 years

• Lack of an effective infrastructure to Lack of an effective infrastructure to impart stored grain IPM principles and impart stored grain IPM principles and practices to end userspractices to end users

• Information provided on individual rather Information provided on individual rather than on a combination of tacticsthan on a combination of tactics

• Little understanding of what it takes to Little understanding of what it takes to change behavior of grain managers to change behavior of grain managers to adopt proper pest management practicesadopt proper pest management practices– Level of education versus adoptionLevel of education versus adoption– Is it cost or is it lack of commitment to change?Is it cost or is it lack of commitment to change?

Some possible solutionsSome possible solutions

• 1) Are research questions identified by 1) Are research questions identified by producers, elevator managers, or the grain producers, elevator managers, or the grain industry?industry?– Focus groups (12-15 individuals)Focus groups (12-15 individuals)– Conduct relevant research based on needsConduct relevant research based on needs

• 2) Do we need more research or just 2) Do we need more research or just become better at using existing knowledge?become better at using existing knowledge?– End-user managed trialsEnd-user managed trials– Educational sessionsEducational sessions– Follow-up surveys to determine if suggested best Follow-up surveys to determine if suggested best

management practices were implementedmanagement practices were implemented

The new face of IPMThe new face of IPM

• Driven by multinational corporationsDriven by multinational corporations• Specific set of IPM practices Specific set of IPM practices shallshall be be

implemented implemented • IPM may be driven by preferences of IPM may be driven by preferences of

consumers (organic products)consumers (organic products)– We have not even addressed needs of We have not even addressed needs of

organic grain managers-a real organic grain managers-a real challenge!challenge!