Effective Grain Protector Solutions | Corteva Agriscience

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The next generation of grain protectants.

Grain Protection

Products & Resources Training Videos Avoiding Resistance Directions for Use Trade Considerations

Products & Resources

Conserve Plus is a next generation grain protectant; it offers grain growers unprecedented flexibility to store cereal grains on farm, whilst delivering robust grain protection. It contains the active ingredients Qalcova active and s-methoprene, which provide flexibility to treat all cereal grains, including malt barley and maize.

Conserve Plus Qalcova active Grain Protector

Conserve Plus is the latest addition to the Conserve family. It is a novel formulation, combining Qalcova® active (Spinosad) and S-methoprene at 100 gm ai per L. Conserve Plus will be able to be used on all cereal grains, including malt barley.

Product details

Conserve Plus Qalcova active Grain Protector

Conserve Plus - Technote

Conserve Plus offers grain growers unprecedented flexibility to store cereal grains on farm, whilst delivering robust grain protection

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Conserve Plus - Technote

Conserve Plus FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions about Conserve Plus.

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Conserve Plus FAQs

Conserve Plus Technical Manual

Conserve Plus is a next generation grain protectant; enabling growers to control insect pests, including the resistant Lesser Grain Borer, in on-farm storages for up to 9 months

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Conserve Plus Technical Manual

Conserve Plus Mixing Partners

Keep this decision tree to remember OP selection rationale and prompt WHP expiry date recording once treatment occurs

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Conserve Plus Mixing Partners

Conserve Plus EUD

Please sign the End User Declaration (EUD) Form when purchasing Conserve Plus.

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Conserve EUD

Key Factors for Successful Grain Storage

#1 Harvest and Grain Marketing Plan

#1 Harvest and Grain Marketing Plan

In this series of 5 videos Jon Dadd, Territory Manager for Corteva Agriscience, describes the key factors for successful grain storage.

#1 Harvest and Grain Marketing Plan

In this series of 5 videos Jon Dadd, Territory Manager for Corteva Agriscience, describes the key factors for successful grain storage.

#2 Preharvest Facility Setup

#2 Preharvest Facility Setup

In this series of 5 videos Jon Dadd, Territory Manager for Corteva Agriscience, describes the key factors for successful grain storage.

#2 Preharvest Facility Setup

In this series of 5 videos Jon Dadd, Territory Manager for Corteva Agriscience, describes the key factors for successful grain storage.

#3 Use Effective Grain Protectants

#3 Use Effective Grain Protectants

In this series of 5 videos Jon Dadd, Territory Manager for Corteva Agriscience, describes the key factors for successful grain storage.

#3 Use Effective Grain Protectants

In this series of 5 videos Jon Dadd, Territory Manager for Corteva Agriscience, describes the key factors for successful grain storage.

#4 Best Practice Application

#4 Best Practice Application

In this series of 5 videos Jon Dadd, Territory Manager for Corteva Agriscience, describes the key factors for successful grain storage.

#4 Best Practice Application

In this series of 5 videos Jon Dadd, Territory Manager for Corteva Agriscience, describes the key factors for successful grain storage.

#5 Post Application Checklist

#5 Post Application Checklist

In this series of 5 videos Jon Dadd, Territory Manager for Corteva Agriscience, describes the key factors for successful grain storage.

#5 Post Application Checklist

In this series of 5 videos Jon Dadd, Territory Manager for Corteva Agriscience, describes the key factors for successful grain storage.

#1 Harvest and Grain Marketing Plan

#1 Harvest and Grain Marketing Plan

#2 Preharvest Facility Setup

#2 Preharvest Facility Setup

#3 Use Effective Grain Protectants

#3 Use Effective Grain Protectants

#4 Best Practice Application

#4 Best Practice Application

#5 Post Application Checklist

#5 Post Application Checklist

Avoiding Resistance

Australia’s grain industry relies heavily on insecticides to both fumigate and protect grain so that it meets market requirements for insect-free grain. Resistance of grain insects to phosphine fumigation and protectant insecticides is becoming a major problem in Australia. It is expected that the number of resistant insects found will increase over the next five years and is likely to extend across all key grain growing regions.

Prolonging the effective life and availability of fumigants and insecticides, through careful management of resistance, is in the interests of everyone involved in the grains industry.

The GRDC Stored Grain Information Hub is a good place to get up to date information on monitoring grain to identifying key pests.

Key Pests of Stored Grain

Qalcova® active (Spinosad) is now established as the most important active ingredient for controlling LGB resistant to methoprene and/or deltamethrin. The combination of Qalcova® active (nerve acting toxin) and s-methoprene (juvenile hormone analogue) targets the key pest LGB, whilst also providing broad spectrum activity on other key insects.

Conserve Plus delivers robust grain protection, via a significant dose increase over Conserve On-Farm, which is an important step to mitigate the development of resistance.

The table below presents data from a recent study at University of Queensland. Good control of adults and progenyof these key grain pests can be seen for at least nine months.

Managing Resistance

Australia’s grain industry relies heavily on insecticides and fumigants to protect stored grain from insect pests. As a result, resistance of grain insects to phosphine

and protectant insecticides, has become a major problem. It is expected that the number of resistant insect populations found will increase over the next five years and is likely to extend across all key grain growing regions.

A key issue is that none of the protectant insecticide active ingredients currently available control all of the five key insect pests. As such, combinations of actives are necessary to control diverse populations, of susceptible and tolerant insects, which occur naturally.

The diagram below is a summary of resistance testing up to 2010, indicating the historical use of s-methoprene in combinations with OP’s, targeting LGB. This extension of resistance to OP’s shows that it is critical for growers to rotate to protectants using Qalcova® active or deltamethrin, to mitigate the development of resistance in LGB.

For more information, download the Technical Manual.

Key Pests Key Pests

Resistance Map Resistance Map

Directions For Use

Grain protectants must be applied to grain free of pests, and are most effective when grain is treated into clean facilities. The following steps will help ensure grain storages begin and remain insect-free for the storage duration.

Step 1

Know the key pests:

Step 2

Remove insect food sources and control the base insect population. Good hygiene is critical to reducing the overall potential insect burden.

Clean up old bags and points of insect harbourage.
Clean up old grain residues that accumulate in and around storages.
Remove all dust and grain residues before applying a structural treatment.
Ensure out-loading augers and aeration ducts are clean. Apply Dryacide® internally, focusing on zones that are hard to clean.

Step 3

Prepare the grain protectant spray application and augering systems.

The position of the spray line nozzle can vary on the equipment, determined primarily on the auger barrel length. If the nozzle is too close to the hopper on longer augers, it can create too much drag and affect elevator output.

The nozzle must be positioned to allow suitable coverage and mixing as the flyting lifts the grain up and into the storage. The nozzle location must allow ease of access to check for spray pattern and nozzle blockages which can occur in the presence of grain dust, as well as calibration checks.

Step 4

Apply the grain protectant ensuring all grain is protected.

Effective application of grain protectants relies on the even distribution of a very small amount of pesticide throughout the entire grain mass. Uneven distribution may leave pockets or layers of unprotected grain where insect infestation may occur. Always use an auger when applying Conserve Plus. Corteva Agriscience does not support the use of tubeveyors, due to poor mixing/coverage issues.

Step 5

Once the grain protectant has been applied:

Record the details of the grain protectant application. In most states, it is a legal requirement to keep a detailed record of all pesticide applications: when applied, with what product and rate, to what commodity. This record will aid the completion of the CVD when the commodity is sold and out-turned.
Clean the application and elevation equipment after use. This is an important step, particularly if grains such as PRF cereals, canola or pulses are to be stored or elevated using the same equipment, as they may pick up unwanted traces of pesticides applied as they are elevated or transferred.

Step 6

Manipulate the storage environmental to limit or prevent insect reproduction. Cool and dry environments are least favourable for storage insects, as evidenced in the table to the right.

Aerate the grain. Aeration is an important tool to reduce grain temperature, helping to reduce pest numbers and maintain grain quality. Aerators should be switched on when filling the silo once the air ducts have been covered. An automatic controller will provide the most reliable results. Aim for a grain temperature of 20°C in summer and less than 15°C in winter.
Reduce the grain moisture. Grain moistures above 12% combined with 30°C temperatures provide ideal conditions for insect development. Higher grain moisture in storage significantly increases the risk of moulds or mycotoxins forming on some commodities. The stockfeed processing sector places a strong focus on checking cereal grains at delivery to detect mycotoxins or moulds, which can have a serious animal health impact in processed feeds.
Monitor the storage. Stored grain should be inspected at least once a month. Take a grain sample from the silo base, and if safe, from the top grain peak. A bucket, insect sieve, sticky tape, magnifying glass, pest identification photos and a grain probe are all valuable tools for inspecting grain. When sampling, smell the grain and look at the grain surface for any signs of insect or moisture damage. If storage pests are found, keep a sample and identify them. Seek advice and take appropriate action (e.g. fumigation in a gas-tight storage.)

Conserve Residues Conserve Residues

Trade Considerations

Conserve Plus (when applied correctly and at the label rate) treats grain at 1 ppm (1 g Qalcova® active / tonne of grain). There is a nil withholding period (WHP) for human and animal consumption, and importantly there are no meat residue bioaccumulation concerns for livestock fed with treated grain.

An Australian cereal grains maximum residue limit (MRL) has been set for Qalcova® active at 1 ppm, which is the same as the amount applied to the grain. Other markets varying from 1 to 2 ppm depending on the country and commodity treated.

Due to the slow degradation of Qalcova® active, in short to mid-term storage scenarios, the residue on the grain at out-turn will be at, or just below, the original level at treatment (i.e. at the Australian MRL) as indicated in the graph below (Corteva Agriscience™ internal trial).

To ensure that there is no risk to trade it is important to ensure that any grain protectant containing Qalcova® active is only applied once over the life of the commodity.

MRLs for Qalcova® active in cereal grains have been established in all key Australian cereal grain markets including, Australian domestic, EU, Japan, USA, Taiwan and all countries that accept Codex residue limits.

Information on MRLs:

Stewardship Program

The purchase and use of Conserve Plus is governed by a stewardship program in addition to label Directions for Use. Together, the label and stewardship program are designed to minimise the risk of a double application of Qalcova® active to prevent trade issues which may arise through MRL breaches.

The Conserve Plus Directions for Use:

Restrict use of Conserve Plus to treat grain that has been grown on the property where it will be stored.
Direct that the product is applied no more than once to any consignment of grain.

For more information, download the Technical Manual