Give Storage Insects Less to Feed On Before Binning Grain

Start the longer storage period with less insect food

If grain will stay in the bin longer, remove cracked kernels, grain dust and debris before filling. Those materials feed external-feeding storage insects, so cleaning leaves them less food while retaining useful grain. Match the cleaner to what needs to come out, then pair cleaning with an empty, clean bin and dry, cool, regularly checked grain.

What cleaning contributes

SDSU Extension’s stored-grain guidance, updated August 28, 2026, notes that infestation becomes more likely the longer grain remains in storage. It recommends removing cracked kernels and debris with a grain cleaner before binning.

The prevention benefit is straightforward: external feeders—insects that feed outside the kernel—consume grain dust, cracked kernels and other debris. Removing that material reduces their food supply.

Cleaning is one part of prevention, not control of insects hidden inside kernels. USDA’s stored-grain insect reference explains that larvae of most primary storage pests live inside kernels and cannot be removed by ordinary cleaning machinery.

Remove the old grain before adding the new

Clean incoming grain should not go into a bin holding an insect source. Penn State Extension recommends removing all old grain, cleaning walls and floors, clearing dust around doors, seams, vents and false floors, and repairing cracks or holes before filling.

Extend that cleanup to the combine, wagons, grain carts and trailers. SDSU also recommends disposing of debris removed from bins and machinery because insects may infest it. Clearing the bin but leaving old grain in the handling equipment misses part of the job.

Choose by the material, not the storage calendar

A longer holding period makes prevention more important; it does not determine which cleaner fits. Look at the unwanted material in the incoming lot.

– Smaller or larger than the grain you want to keep: Size screening can separate material with a usable size difference. A Metra VDSC vibration cleaner removes dirt, debris, dust and small impurities. Standalone VDSC is often sufficient for pre-storage removal of small debris, which can also obstruct air circulation.
– Lighter material that responds differently to air: ADS or ADS-CDC can separate that material from useful grain with controlled airflow. Airflow adjustment lets the operator tune separation to the crop and unwanted material. This is a different selection method from screening; not every cracked kernel responds differently enough to separate by air.

For the airflow option, operating location matters. ADS-CDC includes a cyclone dust collector. ADS without CDC is specified for outdoor use because dust exits with the air. Neither size screening nor airflow cleaning automatically requires the other.

Keep prevention going after filling

Match grain moisture to the crop and storage period. For example, SDSU recommends 13–14% moisture for corn intended for long-term storage. Compare corn moisture readings with that target when deciding whether more drying is needed; it is not a target for every crop.

SDSU recommends running bin fans during cooler fall weather to cool grain and maintain more uniform temperatures, reducing pockets favorable to insects and mold. Level the grain surface after filling to support airflow.

For insect inspections, SDSU recommends checking weekly when stored grain is above 55–60°F and every two weeks below 55°F. Separately, NDSU Extension recommends checking grain temperature every two weeks during spring and summer. A temperature increase may indicate a storage problem. That temperature-check schedule does not replace the more frequent insect inspections for warmer grain.

See which separation fits your grain

To choose a cleaner for removing cracked material and debris before storage, arrange a free test of your own grain with Metra. Compare the original sample, cleaned fraction and removed fraction to see the useful grain retained. The Metra team can recommend equipment and settings around your grain, intended output, throughput and site needs—you do not need to choose a machine first.

Contact [info@graincleaner.com](mailto:info@graincleaner.com). Your manager will confirm sample and shipping arrangements and any associated costs before you send it.