KEY POINTS | FORAGE | MANURE | GRAIN AND SEED
WESTERN
JUNE 2018
SECTION 11
LATE SEASON
MANAGEMENT
VETCH
1 post-harvest management
Section 12 VETCH
June 2018
post-harvest management
Key points
• maintaining quality of vetch hay and grain starts with good
harvest management.
• moist and/or contaminated hay or grain will deteriorate.
• minimising handling of grain helps reduce damage.
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2 post-harvest management
Section 12 VETCH
June 2018
12.1 hay storage
Vetch hay needs to be stored in dry, vermin-free conditions as moisture and vermin
cause hay quality to deteriorate. There are multiple storage options and selecting
the most suitable option will depend on a variety of factors (Table 1), including costs
(Figure 1).
1
Factors influencing the choice of hay storage include:
• timeframe of storage;
• available capital;
• frequency of loading in and out;
• distance to existing storage; and
• customer requirements.
t able 1: Hay storage option pros and cons – three stars is the best option, one star
the worst.
Note: Hay caps only currently available for large square bales.
Source: Aexco (2016) Producing Quality Oat Hay. Aexco http://aexco.com.au/producing-quality-oat-hay
1 Aexco (2016) Producing Quality Oat Hay. Aexco http://aexco.com.au/producing-quality-oat-hay
i MORE INFORMATION
Stored grain information hub
http://storedgrain.com.au
▶ VIDEO
GroundCover tM tV: Storing pulses,
https://youtu.be/ceWA-odhhSk
▶
▶ VIDEO
Storing planting seed,
https://youtu.be/lac96M27xoM
▶
s torage factor top hay tarp Full hay tarp steel shed
3 sides s
teel shed
open sides hay caps
Capital cost per tonne *********
Durability ***** *** **
Annualised cost per year ********* ***
Top layer waterproof ****** *** **
Seepage from beneath **** ****** *
Side bleaching **** *** ***
Labour required at stacking ****** *** **
OH&S during stacking ***** ******
Freight savings from paddock ****** *****
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3 post-harvest management
Section 12 VETCH
June 2018
Figure 1:
$90
$80 $70
$60 $50 $40$30
$20 $10 0 $6
$5
$4
$3
$2
$1
0
Capital costs ($ p\Aer tonne) and dura\Ation
Annual cost ($ per \Atonne per \fear) Top
tarp T
op
tarp HD Full
hay
tarp Full
hay
tarp HD S
teel
shed
open
sided S
teel
shed
open
sided HD Hay
\faps Hay
\faps HD S
teel
shed 3 sided S
teel
shed 3 sided HD
Capital \fosts
per tonne \b10.77
\b9.33\b9.96 \b8.63\b61.54 \b53.33 \b15.38\b13.33\b80.00 \b69.33
Duration
years 2
2 3340 40 10101010
Annual \fosts
t/year 5.38
4.673.32 2.88 1.541.331.54 1.332.00 1.73
Estimated hay storage costs for different storage options for large squa\
re
bales compared to high-density square bales, which are the same size but
approximately 10% heavier. Excludes labour and logistical inputs.
Source: Aexco (2016) Producing Quality Oat Hay. Aexco http://aexco.com.au/producing-quality-oat-hay
i MORE INFORMATION
the Grain Storage Grownotes™ is
now available. Please see:
https://grdc.com.au/grain-storage-
grownotes
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4 post-harvest management
Section 12 VETCH
June 2018
12.2 grain storage
Meticulous hygiene and aeration cooling are the first lines of defence against pest
incursion. Extra costs and/or downgrading are imposed at delivery points if live
insects are found in a load (see Section 11, Table 5).
Vetch grain should be stored at no more than 13% moisture, which is ideally achieved
at harvest. At moisture levels above 13%, aeration of stored grain will be required to
prevent pockets of moist grain developing (Figure 2). Green pods and grains increase
the risk of mould developing during storage, even at lower moisture content.
Moisture pockets can result in moulds and grain damage as well hots spots for grain
storage pests to breed (Table 2).
2
photo 1: Vetch for grain or seed should be stored at 13% moisture or less and
treated like other stored pulse crops.
Photo: Emma Leonard, AgriKnowHow
Figure 2:
ColdAir Air releases
moisture on cold g\Hrain
Cold air settles
Warm grain
Warm grain
Warm grainCold grain
Cold grain
Cold grain
Warm air rises
Warm air rises
ColdAir
A
B
WarmAir
Air releases
moisture
Cold air settles
WarmAir
Air movement in th\ge bin during \fold (\gA) and warm (\b) peri\gods.
Hig\f moisture zone
Hig\f moisture zone
Influence of ambient temperature and the location of high-moisture hot
spots in grain-storage silos.
Source: PIRSA/GRDC (2010) Vetch: The Ute Guide. PIRSA/GRDC – https://grdc.com.au/vetch-the-ute-guide
2 PIRSA/GRDC (2010) Vetch: The Ute Guide. PIRSA/GRDC – https://grdc.com.au/vetch-the-ute-guide
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5 post-harvest management
Section 12 VETCH
June 2018
table 2: The influence of temperature and moisture on stored grain insect and
mould development.
Source: Grain storage pest control guide (2013) GRDC, Kondinin Group
While the number of times grain is moved should be minimised to prevent damage,
transferring grain between two silos in warm, windy weather can reduce moisture
content by 1–2%.
Weatherproof sheds and silos are suitable storages. Bunkers need to be waterproof.
Silo bags should only be considered as short-term, temporary storage as
discolouration of grain can occur, moisture can be difficult to handle, odours arise and
bags can be punctured by vermin, birds or pests.
Grain stores should be cleaned and any residual grainstorage pests exterminated
prior to filling with fresh grain.
For post-harvest storage vetch should be treated like pulse crops. Chemical structural
treatments before storing pulses is not recommended. This is because pulses are
not specified on the labels of chemicals used for structural treatments and maximum
residue levels (MRLs) in pulses for those products are either extremely low or nil.
The use of diatomaceous earth (DE) as a structural treatment is possible but wash and
dry the storage and equipment before using for pulses. This will ensure the DE does
not discolour the grain surface.
3
Fumigation is the only option available to control pests in stored pulses, and this
should only be done in a gas-tight, sealable storage.
The ideal grain-storage plan is to:
• dry and cool vetch grain;
• store grain in the dark; and
• sell vetch as quickly as possible.
The GRDC Stored Grain Hub (http://storedgrain.com.au) provides a valuable
reference library of the latest information on grain storage.
3 Storing Pulses. GRDC http://storedgrain.com.au/storing-pulses
grain temperature (°C) Insect and mould development grain moisture
content (%)
40–55 Seed damage occurs,
reducing viability
30–40 Mould and insects are prolific >18
25–30 Mould and insects are active 13–18
20–25 Mould development is limited 10–13
18–20 Young insects stop developing 9
mould stops developing
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6 post-harvest management
Section 12 VETCH
June 2018
12.2.1 grain handling and cleaning
Belt shifters are recommended as vetch can be damaged by augers. Minimise
handling grain to limit physical damage. Run augers full and at a slower speed than
for cereals. Avoid dropping the vetch from a great height onto hard surfaces.
Poor handling can lead to cracked, skinned, broken and discoloured grain, which
affects classification and market appeal. While visual appeal is an issue for human
consumption markets, into which vetch is not sold, such defects can also reduce
germination and consequently viable seed percentage.
Poor grain colour (seed or kernel) can be caused by premature ripening due to
heat, drought or disease stress, harvesting immature seed (‘green kernel’), delayed
harvest, rain at harvest, disease, frosting and a dry, hot finish. Prolonged wet weather
pre-harvest may lead to poor colour, loose seed coat or wrinkled grain, which is more
prone to damage during harvest and handling.
Such defects can be minimised by:
• controlling disease, especially Ascochyta blight, chocolate spot and rust;
• managing the crop to lessen effects of frost or a dry finish;
• crop-topping or desiccating at the right time;
• harvesting as soon as the crop is ready, before rain and before grain moisture
is too low;
• carefully harvesting and handling grain to minimise grain damage; and
• storing in dry, sealed storage conditions. ▶ VIDEO
Storing planting seed,
https://youtu.be/lac96M27xoM
▶
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