National Grain Storage Development and Extension (NGSE)

This investment focuses on expanding and improving on-farm grain storage, improving maintenance scheduling for storage infrastructure, improving best management practices to protect stored grain from insects, fungi, and mice, enhance product pricing through segregation and cleaning, reduce harvest freight costs, and improve health and safety practices. To achieve these goals, various extension approaches will be employed, including participatory action learning workshops, economic calculators, industry-based case studies, communication materials like factsheets, podcasts, presentations, webinars, and videos. Additionally, grower access to the 1800 WEEVIL support line and collaboration with the 'National resistance monitoring and management of stored grain pests' investment are crucial to this project.

Outcome:

By 30 November 2029, nine hundred and ten grain growers will have implemented practice changes in at least one of the following areas: new on-farm grain storage infrastructure, best-practice grain quality management, improved value for on-farm stored grain, and/or enchaned safety outcomes when operating in and around grain storage.

Outputs

Output 1.

Title: Identify opportunities to invest in on-farm grain storage.

Description: By March 2025 and annually thereafter, decision support tools will be revised and expanded to assist growers in making informed decisions about on-farm grain storage installations, integrating pest control measures. These tools will estimate payback periods and returns on investment (ROI) for various storage structures and should include but not be limited to:

• Silo installations (flat and cone), including comparisons of drying and cooling systems, and sealed versus non-sealed options. The calculator will account for reduced ongoing costs and lower spoilage in sealed systems.

• Bag-based systems with loading equipment, pad structures, and fumigation capabilities.

• Dual-use sheds for grain and fertiliser or machinery storage.

• Bunkers.

Considerations will include likely income or savings (with dollar ranges) and associated costs (capital and ongoing, with dollar ranges). Surveys will be conducted to (i) refine estimates of current on-farm grain storage capacity and (ii) analyse future grain storage needs for growers.

Output 2.

Title: Identify the range of grain price improvement opportunities.

Description: Grain price improvement opportunities may be regularly implemented where September grain price variability compared to December pricing is high with the greatest variability is on the upside of the December price. Therefore, probability analysis is required to examine likely benefits of holding the physical product and selling later compared with a harvest selling time.

Blending, segregation and cleaning opportunities are not always present in very year or for all tonnages produced on-farm. Consequently, it’s important to highly the specific circumstance that allow for this additional value capture.

By March 2025 and annually thereafter develop probability analysis of sale time impacts for the major grains and case studies that outline the circumstances (price and quality circumstances) under which segregation, blending or cleaning are profitable. Case studies should include but not be limited to:

• Probability profits-based estimates for sale timing of major grains,

• Circumstances where segregation becomes financially viable,

• Settings where blending becomes profitable,

• Situations where grain cleaning becomes financially beneficial.

Output 3.

Title: Improve the implementation of leading practice management for stored grain pests and disease.

Description: By March 2025 and annually thereafter, develop and deliver a minimum of 15 events per GRDC region (45 events nationally), alongside podcasts, videos, printed materials, Groundcover articles, and GRDC Update papers. These resources will focus on improving pest and disease management for stored grains to reduce grain spoilage, minimise export risks, raise the standard of integrated management practices, and slow the development of fumigant resistance.

Key activities include:

• Improving standards for on-farm insect and disease prevention, including hygiene, cooling, reduced humidity systems, and the use of protectants and fumigants.

• Developing materials to guide users on registered chemical use, active ingredient rotation, withholding periods, and other critical considerations.

• Creating training resources to upskill growers in the application and management of on-farm protectants and fumigants.

• Maintaining grower access to expertise via the 1800-WEEVIL support line (1800 933 845).

Note:

• The RiskWi$e network will help identify barriers and motivations to adoption, guiding the extension activities.

• Surveys will assess current pest control practices and highlight barriers to adopting leading-practice management, improving adoption strategies.

• The output will leverage existing grower groups, the National Risk Management Initiative, and networks from previous grain storage projects. GRDC’s communication channels, including event submissions and email campaigns, will be used for outreach.

• Collaboration with the investment on National Resistance Monitoring and Management of Stored Grain Pests will ensure alignment in pest management strategies and data sharing to improve pest management practices and reduce fumigant resistance.

Output 4.

Title: Undertake development activities that improve grain storage outcomes.

Description: By March 2026 and annually thereafter, this investment will contribute to ongoing advancements in grain storage by focusing on at least four key areas:

• Undertake development activities to assist growers and manufacturers in improving the effectiveness and functionality of existing and new on-farm grain storage.

• Co-develop and extend improved engineering approaches to enhance the effectiveness of aeration systems in new and existing storages.

• Explore novel methods for maintaining and improving grain quality during storage and its post-storage implications.

• Improve techniques for storing and treating grain in temporary storage (e.g., silo bags).

• Identify information gaps in leading-practice management to inform future improvements (Output 3).

• Update fact sheets on grain storage, including bunkers and other forms of storage.

• Provide follow-up support for grain storage users to ensure the successful adoption of improved storage practices.

Output 5.

Title: Progress health and safety knowledge and awareness relating to stored grains.

Description: By March 2025 and annually thereafter, develop and deliver health and safety courses and events (integrated with Output 3), alongside videos and printed materials, to improve knowledge, awareness, and practices in the following areas:

• Operating around trucks, augers, and tractors.

• Working at heights and in confined spaces.

• Handling and applying protectants and fumigants.

• Loading and unloading various storage facilities.

Note:

This output will be linked with GRDC’s investment in the Rural Safety and Health Alliance ‘Ag Safety Data Net’ (RDC2401-004OPX), which aims to establish a farm safety data system providing meaningful metrics for safety planning, action, and reporting.

Output 6.

Title: Improve and/or expand industry capacity and capability.

Description: By March 2026 and annually thereafter, this investment will enhance the capability and capacity of skilled expertise in grain storage, supporting the delivery of Outputs 1 to 5. The focus will be on improving the skill base of both existing and new staff in key areas related to on-farm grain storage.

Key activities include:

• Training new and existing staff on the technical aspects of grain storage (e.g., related to Outputs 1 to 5).

• Providing training on workshop delivery and event management.

• Equipping staff with effective communication skills to drive practice change.

Output 7.

Title: Monitoring, evaluation and tracking industry metrics and trends.

Description: By March 2025 and annually thereafter, collect and analyse metrics to assess the effectiveness of this investment in driving practice change and to identify future opportunities for on-farm grain storage.

Key activities include:

• Conducting surveys at workshops to establish baseline and post-investment on-farm storage capacity.

• Completing surveys to assess the frequency of stored grain assessments and fumigation practices on-farm.

• Estimating the value improvements growers have experienced from storing grain on-farm.

• Tracking metrics that provide insights into industry changes and trends.