GRAIN FUMIGATION UPDATE · exposure and aeration. • Some sites, structures are not suitable for fumigation. If bin entry is required for application, over filling your bin is an

GRAIN FUMIGATION UPDATE … JEFF WAGGONER, ACE

F U M I G A T I O N S E R V I C E & S U P P LY, I N C .

W E S T F I E L D , I N

j . w a g g o n e r @ F u m i g a t i o n Z o n e . c o m

Topics of Discussion: • Fumigant Review

• EPA Label Reregistration Status Update

• Commodity IPM

• Fumigation Review

• Fumigation Methodology and Monitoring

• Challenging The Process

• What To Expect In The Future

Fumigant Review

Fumigant Properties Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP) • Gas

• Changes State: Solid to Gas

• Changes State: Liquid to Gas

Solid Liquid Gas

Fumigant Properties

Good Gas Properties – Toxicity, Penetration and Equilibrium

Fumigant Properties

Bad Gas Properties – Toxicity, Penetration and Equilibrium

Fumigant Properties

Q: Why the good properties of a toxic gas are sometimes overshadowed by the bad press they get? A: Education

Applicator Client Consumer

Google Search: Aluminum Phosphide

Google Search Results

EPA Update Status

Sulfuryl Fluoride is currently under label review by the EPA …

• Has been since 2009.

• Data Submission complete by 2017

• Expect final ruling by 2019

http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=EPA-HQ-OPP-

2013-0081

Phosphine is currently under label review by the EPA …

• Has been since 2013

• The final decision (RED) is not expected out until 2019.

• Stewardship Programs

• Buffer Zones

http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=EPA-HQ-OPP-

2013-0081

The Perfect Fumigant Storm …

• 2009 and 2013 re-registrations begin

• 2015 Bed bug incident with illegal phosphine use

• March Fumigation workshop for EPA

• March Delaware family in US VI

• August Florida incident

• August Canada announces buffer zones for phosphine

• NPMA and EPA Meetings

• September – MB had buffer zones approved on its new label

• 2019 - 2020

Commodity IPM

• Integrated Pest Management for the grain industry.

• Most of the infestation issues that a facility manager must deal with come from the facility itself.

• Most pest professionals providing services for the industry are general pest control companies.

• Quality services and educated personnel are quickly becoming a necessity.

• Food processing level reporting, inspecting and analysis is becoming the new standard.

Prepare, Protect and Preserve the Profits

Have effective Rodent and Insect Control and Monitoring Protocols performed by trained professionals.

Prepare, Protect and Preserve the Profits Protect

Signs you have a poor pest management program.

Weed Control

Prepare, Protect and Preserve the Profits Prepare

Clean like this guy!


Fines under grain bin

Bin decay


Video courtesy of Jeff Trudell


Bin base sealing

The quality of your commodity never improves in storage.

Prepare, Protect and Preserve the Profits Protect

Products like Centynal, Storcide II, Diacon IGR may be applied directly to moving grain going into storage.

Grain Protectants

• Reduce Downtime

• Eliminate Exposure to Fumigants

• Are effective on a wide variety of pests

• Are a preventative way to protect clean grains

• Will NOT offer a good value on control after infestation compared to fumigation

• Cannot be removed once applied.

• Can only be applied once.

Methodology and Monitoring

Deciding to Fumigate …

• Every year billions of dollars of commodity and finished foods are lost due to insect damage alone.

• Losses at each stage of the process.

• Some of these losses are preventable.

• But the $$$ is primarily focused on increasing production.

By 2050 there wil l be an estimated >9 bi l l ion people on the earth which requires 70% more food than current levels.

Fumigant Selection …

• Insects and Temperature

Di f fer ent for mulat ions have d i f fer ent temp and dosage in for mat ion . A lways r ead and fo l low the labe l .

What we have available for use …

• Magnesium Phosphide [Mg3P2]

• Aluminum Phosphide [AlP]

• Sulfuryl Fluoride [SO2F2]

• Cylinderized Phosphine Gas [PH3] Aluminum Phosphide Pellets / Tablets

Sulfuryl Fluoride

AlP Prepac (dust retention) Cylinderized Phosphine

Magnesium Phosphide

3 Are Phosphine Products …

• Magnesium Phosphide [Mg3P2]

• Aluminum Phosphide [AlP]

• Cylinderized Phosphine Gas [PH3] H

H

H P

Phosphine gas was f i r s t labe led in the late 50s . T hat i s a long t ime for a pest ic ide .


• Pellets and Tablets

Entr y i s best w hen p lac ing pe l le ts or tab lets d i r ect l y in g r a in .


• PH3 Gas Cyl inder i zed gas does not wor k in a l l s i tuat ions but in s tee l tanks i t wor ks wel l .


• PH3 Gas Cyl inder i zed gas does not wor k in a l l s i tuat ions but in concr ete upr ights i t wor ks ver y wel l .


• PH3 Gas Cyl inder i zed gas wor ks g r eat in conta iner app l icat ions because ther e i s no d isposa l .

ProFume …

• Precision Fumigation

Stewar dsh ip and t r a in ing is a r equ i r ement cur r ent l y for SF use .

ProFume …

• SF in grain applications

• Heavier than phosphine

• Special monitoring and safety equipment

• Immediate levels

SF behaves d i f fer ent l y than phosphine and r equ i r es d i f fe r ent app l icat ion methodolog ies , d i f fe r ent moni tor ing and safety equ ipment .

Where would I start …

• Education

• Stewardship

• Apprenticeship

• Licensing

A fumigat ion l icense a lone doesn’ t necessar i l y qua l i fy you to be a fumigator.

Pre-qualification Checklist • OSHA Certified

• 10 Hour • 30 Hour

• SMI, ISNet, PICS, MICCS, CBRE, PEC, BioSiteSafe, ClickSafety

• CPR, AED, First Aid

• Lift (platform and aerial)

• DOT Hazmat Endorsement and Compliance

• LOTO

• Fit Testing

• Random Drug Testing

• Department of Homeland Security Compliance

• Respiratory Fit Testing

• Calibration of Devices

• Current Label / SDS Revisions Maintained

Performing a site survey is important …

• Determine where you may have issues during sealing, shooting, exposure and aeration.

• Some sites, structures are not suitable for fumigation.

I f b in ent r y i s r equ i r ed for app l icat ion , over f i l l i ng your b in i s an i ssue .

Si te sur vey example and pr e -fumigat ion checkl is t should be a par t o f your pr ocess .

Documentation

T he FMP or Fumigat ion Management P lan must be a par t o f your pr ocess .

Performing a FMP is risk mitigation …

• The FMP was a RMM from the last phosphine label review.

• Some sites, structures are not suitable for fumigation.

• Some people are not suitable for fumigation.

Most fumigant applications are on grain …

• Despite the hazards associated with using aluminum phosphide.

• Most effective application method in most cases.

• Most cost effective option available.

• Fumigate grain without moving it.

Gr ain can be successfu l l y t r eated for less than $0 .02 / bu* .

Why phosphine …

• Phosphine is a very good penetrating fumigant. It can penetrate into and out of densely packed commodities under the right conditions.

• Solid and stable when dry.

• Effective against all life stages of insects.

• It’s cheap.

Phosphine gas wi l l move about 15 ’ per day thr ough w heat but wi l l be less e f fect ive beyond about 30 ’ w i thout supplementa l ag i tat ion .

How solid phosphine works and why sometimes it does not …

• The solid forms react with moisture to create hydrogen phosphide gas (phosphine).

• Extremely low humidity and leaky structures and poor sealing.

• Piles of pellets can get hot enough to start fire.

• Applications to sweating grain or bins or leaky bins during rain may also cause a fire.

• High levels of phosphine can be explosive, but would be very rare during most applications.

• Gas is not water soluble.

M et a l Phos ph i des (a l um i num and m a gnes i um ) r eac t qu i ck l y i f we t and can caus e a f i r e .

Determine if your application is S.A.F.E. …

• Safer Applications of Fumigants for Everybody

• Reduce pesticide exposure to applicators and bystanders.

• Reduce pesticide usage on products.

• Reduce odors by repeated or direct fumigant application and improper aeration.

• Reduce risk. By a lways ut i l i z ing the best pr act ices appr oach, you can r espons ib l y and e f fect ive l y use and pr otect our l imi ted fumigant ava i lab i l i ty.

What to look for …

• Foundation Cracks

• Leaky Areas

• Rusted Out Fans

T hese ar e a l l aspects o f qua l i ty and wi l l he lp ensur e success .


• Spouting

• Conveyors

Ins ight on how to s top gas loss and mig r at ion i s impor tant to ensur ing you mainta in good gas leve ls in the tar get s t r uctur e .


• Slide Gates

• Enclosed Reclaim

• Tunnels

Gas in tunnels can cause bystander exposur e i ssues .


• Finding the issues before applying.

Seal ing for gas per manent l y i s a lso sea l ing out bugs .

Sealing Challenges …

• Sealing is a label requirement, what challenges lie ahead?

• Height

• Weather

• Heat

• Location

• Size


• Exterior Tape and Seal

• Safety

Exter ior sea l ing has i ts advantages but takes a lo t o f t ime and is mor e cost l y.


• Interior Tarping

• Safety Risk Perception

In ter ior tar p ing is less expens ive , but does not addr ess the head sect ion o f the b in wi th fumigant .

Fumigant Application…


Pel lets and tab lets wor k g r eat in g r a in . Pe l le ts for coo l g r a in , tab lets for war m / loose s t r uctur es .

Fumigant Application…


Entr y i s best w hen p lac ing pe l le ts or tab lets d i r ect l y in g r a in .

Efficacy Monitoring …

• High range monitoring

• 200ppm – 72 hours - 77°F

• Douglas ProFume precision fumigation

Moni tor ing i s a labe l r equ i r ement , but can be cha l leng ing i f you don’ t know w hat to expect .

J-System Recirculation Principle Efficacy Monitoring …

• Gas application recirculation

• Gas will move some, but needs agitation for equilibrium in larger bins.

Depending on the s i ze o f the b in , you may need mor e b lower s and a l low mor e t ime.

Efficacy Monitoring …

• Efficacy Monitoring Failures

• Sorption

• Weather

• Calibration

• Humans

Clearance Monitoring …

• Intially readings will (should) be higher than what is permissible to call a fumigation complete

• Fans must be run to speed aeration and push gas out.

T he p lacar ds cannot be r emoved unt i l f ina l r ead ings ar e taken and they ar e be low the TWA.

Post Fumigation Autopsy

• Knowing what kind of insect you are finding will help in knowing how to prevent re-infestation and what kind of damage can occur.

Pr imar y vs . Secondar y insect ID wi l l te l l you r i sk for loss o f va lue , w hat to look for and he lp make educated dec is ions on t r eatment and pr event ion .

Post Fumigation Autopsy

• Summarizing what was found and taking Corrective Actions (CA) to prevent it from occurring in the future.

Commodi ty based inte g r ated pest management , communicat ion and cont inuous impr ovement wi l l p r o long the e f fects o f a fumigat ion .

Challenges Ahead

The Future of Grain Fumigations will Change …

• Safer Applications

• Environmental Concerns

• Pesticide Residues

• EPA Label Review

• Buffer Zones, Lower Exposure Limits

The Future of Grain Fumigations will Change …

• Phosphine Resistance

• Eliminate Misapplications

• cGFP – Current Good Fumigation Practices

• Stewardship, Education, Training

Thank You … Questions ??? JEFF WAGGONER, ACE

F U M I G A T I O N S E R V I C E & S U P P LY, I N C .

W E S T F I E L D , I N

j . w a g g o n e r @ F u m i g a t i o n Z o n e . c o m

Documents

GRAIN FUMIGATION UPDATE · exposure and aeration. • Some sites, structures are not suitable for fumigation. If bin entry is required for application, over filling your bin is an