Australia’s On-Farm Grain Storage Extension Project – a national initiative improving stored grain pest management and maintaining phosphine fumigation efficacy on-farm for the Australian grains industry.

Phosphine’s continued use in Australia to control grain insect pests in on-farm and central storage systems is threatened through increased resistance in both frequency and strength in target insect pests. Effective fumigation combined with best practice integrated pest management is essential to the sustainability of grain biosecurity, food safety, quality assurance and market access for Australian post-harvest grain systems. The National Stored Grain Extension Program (NSGEP) is an industry funded initiative developed to facilitate best practice in grain storage management within Australia’s grains industry. The NGSEP uses a multi approach engagement strategy and a variety of adult learning principles and training techniques aimed at increasing awareness and knowledge to build capacity and support to enable farmers and industry to manage their grain storage systems and meet best practice and market requirements. These include: training workshops, field days, practical demonstrations, industry forums, multi-media and website development and building networks with grower groups, government agencies and agribusiness. Various evaluation methods have shown that awareness and adoption of best practice in on-farm grain storage management has increased. Key outcomes include increased knowledge in insect identification and skills development and practice change in the management of grain hygiene, aeration, phosphine application, silo testing and planning of storage systems. The NSGEP contributes to the positive on-going changes observed in Australia’s on-farm grain storage systems, primarily through the specialized extension network of information, support and training provided that is highly regarded and in demand. It plays an instrumental role in building capacity and maintaining phosphine fumigation efficacy in the Australian grains industry.