THE potential obstacles presented by the locust plague will not be overcome as soon as the locusts are controlled – with farmers concerned about grain downgrading because of high amounts of dead insects in the grain sample.
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Grain Trade Australia (GTA) chief executive Geoff Honey confirmed there had been a lot of discussion regarding insect and possible chemical contamination as a result of the locust plague.
“Farmers obviously need to follow the prescribed with-holding periods in accordance with the locust control products they use, as they have to with other chemicals.”
Mr Honey said GTA standards would remain the same, with three insects allowable in the standard half a litre sample for milling wheats.
However, he urged growers to look at the specifications for different paygrades, saying there were differences through the quality grades and also from crop to crop.
“In particular, it would be important to look at the different pulse crops as the number of field insects allowable in the sample varies.”
Pulse Australia’s standards allow for 30 insects per sample for top quality faba beans, but only 15 in lentils, while there is no tolerance in broad beans.
Farmers are investigating the cost of cleaning locusts out from their grain, and whether it will be economic.
The spread between the standard milling grade APW and feed wheat is currently $30-35 a tonne, and is expected by many to widen further, while the cost of cleaning seed is generally around $15/t, although this figure is based more on the more intensive process of screening grain to sift out small seeds. Cleaning for insects may be slightly cheaper.
GrainCorp corporate affairs manager David Ginns said his organisation would be receiving grain to GTA standards, but said he the company would look to work with growers in problem areas and offer relevant segregations.
He said growers needed to take the issue of insect contamination seriously.
“Elevated levels of insect bodies can lead to the presence of botulism in grain. Given we are dealing with human food, we need to take steps to ensure food safety."
Mr Ginns said GrainCorp was looking at the prospect of offering cleaning facilities, but said the company was still investigating how such a service might operate and how it could be provided at economical rates to growers.
While whole insects are the major concern, some growers are also worried whether dead insects breaking down may cause staining or discolouration issues in grain, which would also lead to downgrading.
