SPREC

Projects
Projects

Research Programs at SPREC

The Stored Products Research and Education Center (SPREC) is a facility that exists as a tool to be used by faculty and staff with existing programs and budgets to conduct their research and/or educational and extension programs. Listed below are projects that will utilize SPREC in the short-term for which there is current funding and staff in place to conduct the work. Proposed activities that will require future funding are also listed and are designated as long-term objectives.

Short-Term Objectives at SPREC
  1. Evaluation and implementation of the Electronic Grain Probe Insect Counter (EGPIC) for estimating insect infestation in grain and use of such information for IPM decision-making.
  2. Simulated field trials of an attracticide (pheromone + low dose insecticide) to suppress populations of the Indian meal moth.
  3. Commercial-scale disinfestations of bulk or packaged commodity using low pressure (vacuum) and flexible gas-tight storage containers.
  4. Conduct yearly grain grading schools, fumigation applicator training, and elevator pest management workshops for members of the grain industry and affiliated government agencies in Oklahoma and neighboring states.
Long-Term Objectives at SPREC
  1. Electronic monitoring and automated aeration control for temperature and moisture management of stored wheat.
  2. Evaluation of factors contributing to shrink and quality loss of wheat in long-term post harvest storage.
  3. Field trials of new residual grain protectants for stored wheat that represent alternatives to chemicals lost due to regulation or biological resistance.
  4. Field trials of a phosphine gas generator and other external application methods for effective fumigation of bulk wheat.
  5. Investigate the feasibility of using controlled or modified atmospheres for disinfesting bulk-stored wheat.
  6. Develop and/or evaluate rapid and accurate chemical or physical methods for detecting and quantifying internal (hidden) insect infestation in grain destined for milling.
  7. Conduct studies on quality of water due to run-off from grain storage operations.
  8. Develop special grain storage training courses on topics such as automated temperature management, grain quality sampling and improved application of pesticides.

This page maintained by: Tom Royer, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology.
If you have questions/comments please contact tom.royer@okstate.edu.