Grain Journal - July/August 2008 - (Page 14) First Floods, Now Mold IN ADDITION, MOLD-FEEDING INSECTS POSE A THREAT TO STORED GRAIN In recent months, news Take Your Time STORED GRAIN reports have been filled with Although some losses MANAGEMENT images of rivers overflowing might never be recovered, and Linda Mason their banks, livestock restcertainly raw commodities ing on roofs, farm fields needed immediate attention, turned into lakefront propmoving too quickly to correct erty, and submerged grain damaged offices and homes elevators. My heart goes out can be dangerous. to all that have been afFlooded structures must fected by this most recent have the drywall, insulation, test of Mother Nature. and other wet materials reHowever, as an entomoved and the structural mologist, my thoughts go elements thoroughly dried to all the homes, buildbefore enclosing. ings, and bushels of grain that have This is because molds and moldbeen damaged by the flood and feeding insects can become a tremenwhat this means for mold-feeding dous problem in and around these insects. structures within walls. The presence of mold-feeding insects is an excellent indicator that grains may have been flooddamaged and/or are going out of condition. -Linda Mason, Purdue University Moisture Removal Key Molds need moisture to grow. They reproduce by means of tiny spores, invisible to the naked eye. Unfortunately, there is no practi- Response No. 141 14 GJ J/A http://www.walinga.com http://www.walinga.com
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