Although corn and soybean crops have been slow to mature this year, harvest will begin this week.

Corn silage harvest is continuing on livestock and dairy farms with most of the harvest already in the silo. There are still some producers planning on harvesting another cutting of hay.

And for potatoes, pumpkins — the list could go on — now is harvest time.

At the Butler County Farm Service Agency, we are reminding producers that production losses for NAP covered crops need to be reported to FSA within 15 days of harvest.

Also producers enrolled in CREP and DCP soon will be receiving their 2009 program benefits. We also want to remind producers to take precautions for a safe harvest. Grain producers will want to clean out and inspect their grain bins before harvest. The following are suggestions for storing and maintaining quality grain.

Starting out with a grain bin free of old, insect infested grain is essential to getting a good start, particularly if no other protection will be applied to the grain. Sweeping down the walls of the bin and getting old grain out of the cracks and crevices is essential to prevent problems later.

Malathion, Storcide II ¿, Tempo Ultra SC ¿, Suspend SC ¿, and several pyrethrin products can be used to apply a surface treatment to the inside of the bin and provide a residual. Note that on the label for Storcide II there are restrictions on the application method. Chloropicrin is no longer labeled to fumigate underneath false floors and in air ducts. Phostoxin is the only product that can be used for this purpose.

Once the bin has been properly cleaned, it is important to put clean, insect-free new grain in the bin. The first step to accomplish this is to make sure your equipment has been cleaned out before you begin harvesting. Otherwise, you could bring in insects that have been living inside your combine.

Make sure the combine is adjusted to minimize breakage of grain. Whole grain is more difficult for molds and insects to get started on and also makes aeration of the bin more efficient. If possible, grain should be run through a cleaner before placement in the bin. Sanitation and surface treatment should be sufficient to control insects for a six- to nine-month period.

If you are not able to clean out the bin or don't fumigate under floor areas, or if you think the storage period may be longer, application of a residual insecticide to the grain as it goes into storage will help keep insects controlled. Actellic 5E is labeled for this use on corn and sorghum, whereas Storcide II is labeled for barley, oats, sorghum and wheat.

Application of methoprene (Diacon II) is also an option and this hormone mimic will prevent larvae from becoming adults, stopping the cycling of generations. A dust formulation of Malathion (check the label) might possibly still be available for treating grain.

If you do not treat the whole bin this way you can treat the last load going in with a protectant or mix in a BT product into the top 4 to 6 inches of grain in the bin to control Indian meal moth.

Luke Fritz is executive director of the Butler County Farm Service Agency.