Miller Magazine Issue: 131 November 2020

52 COVER STORY MILLER / November 2020 dent control. Garbage, food or feed should be stored in sealed containers as much as possible. Outdoor debris and weeds close to buildings should be removed. It is essential to regularly check the external environ- ment of businesses and buildings for signs of rodent in- festation. Measures should be taken to prevent entry and exit of rodent, and it is imperative to provide isolation. It may be helpful to have a map or plan of where rodents have seen or where there is evidence of infestation. Us- ing the right method and is essential to control rodents. The presence of pests is one of the fundamental problems for the safety and suitability of food. Pest infestation can occur in the living areas and/or in the food supply chain. Empty grain warehouses/silos are ideal environments for many pests to live in, and these environments can contain more pests than we think. And these pests can invade the grain that comes to the warehouse after harvest. Control strategy is must within an IPM strategy! Some precautions should be taken before the grain is taken to storage. Buildings should be designed to prevent the entry of insects and other pests and to eliminate potential breeding / nesting areas for pests. It must be kept in good conditions. Holes, drains and other plac- es likely to allow pests use as a door for enter to buildings should be kept closed. In places where closure is not possible, precautions should be taken to reduce the possibility of pest entry, such as the placement of mesh wire mesh. For example, ventilation windows and drain out- lets should be covered with a mesh wire made of suitable material. In the second step, to maintain an insect-free environment. Detailed and comprehensive cleaning should be done. phys- ical arrangements generally start with the cleaning of the warehouses. Locations where insects nests are determined and those all cracks and broken surfaces are repaired with suitable/durable materials. For example, in steel silos, atten- tion should be paid to the cleanliness of the inner surfaces and floors, and problems such as cracks should be eliminat- ed. In addition, clean the outside perimeter of the steel silos, product entry-exit points and ventilation parts. Good hygiene practices, control of received materials and good monitoring; minimizes invasions and thus the amount of pesticides used. Empty warehouse spraying should be done if necessary to eliminate the risks of all pests in empty storages. While spray- ing the permanent surface, it should not be forgotten that the application is made in order to control the pests in risky areas or that will come later. All surfaces should be sprayed to prevent pests from escaping and spreading. During the application, at- tention should be paid to the potential hiding areas of cracks, crevices and other insects. The correct dosage should be applied and the appropriate calibrated spraying machine or equipment should be used. Products labels should read carefully. The area and its surroundings should be reviewed reg- ularly so that the invasion situation can be observed in advance. To prevent Pest infestation, an IPM strategy should be applied and it continues regularly. Chemical, physical and biological elements should be used in a way that does not harm food safety and sustainability. Bayer Enviromental Science Turkey : https://www.environmentalscience.bayer.com.tr /