Dicamba (3,6-dichloro-o-anisic acid), 2,4-D [(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid], and picloram (4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid) were applied as simulated spray drift to sugarbeets at several growth stages. When applied at early growth stages 2,4-D tended to decrease root yield but decreased purity and extractable sucrose content by as much as 54% when applied at later growth stages. Dicamba at 0.14 kg ae/ha and 2,4-D at 0.28 kg ae/ha decreased extractable sucrose/ha and tended to decrease root yield at harvest while picloram at 0.028 kg ae/ha did not significantly reduce root yield or sucrose content at harvest compared to the control. All rates of 2,4-D from 0.035 to 0.28 kg ae/ha increased sucrose losses during post-harvest storage at 5 C and 95% relative humidity. Dicamba and picloram at 0.14 and 0.028 kg ae/ha, respectively, caused similar storage losses. Sugarbeets that are inadvertently exposed to 2,4-D, dicamba, or picloram spray drift during the growing season should be processed immediately after harvest.

Storage method encompasses the patterns and periods of storage as well as particular storage techniques. Storage management is therefore a major determinant of post-harvest losses in stored cereals: affecting the magnitude of losses and their susceptibility to reduction. Key issues are the location and scale of grain storage which, in most developing countries, involves both rural domestic storage and larger seal “buffer” storage at district centres, commonly near towns.

Various storage techniques are described and discussed against the background of available informatio on storage losses and with regard to the common patterns and periods of storage in Africa at the farr level and in “centralized” storage. The importance of long-term development planning for cereal crop production and utilization is stressed as a major factor in storage pest management and the reduction of storage losses.

The handling of imported food grains is discussed with regard to storage management problems arising from moisture content/relative humidity equilibria as affected by grain temperature.