Threshing

Abstract: Ten samples of stored wheat grain and 10 samples of settled grain dust released during machine threshing of wheat grain were collected on 10 farms located in Lublin province (eastern Poland). The samples were examined for the concentration of total microfungi, Fusarium species, fusariotoxins (moniliformin, deoxynivalenol, nivalenol), and ochratoxin. Microfungi able to grow on malt agar were present in 30% of grain samples (median for all examined samples = 0, range 0-227.5 ◊ 10 3 cfu/g) and

Abstract: Objectives: Exposure to organic dust containing high concentrations of microorganisms is common in grain farming, although the farmers have practices to counteract microbial growth to obtain optimal grain yields. We investigated the influence of weather and production practices on personal microbial exposure during grain work. Methods: Airborne dust was collected by personal sampling during threshing and storage work on 92 Norwegian farms. The personal exposure for bacteria, endotoxin, fungal spores and hyphae, b-(1/3)-glucans and actinomycetes was quantified and compared with climatic data expressed as fungal forecasts from the grain growth season and production practices as reported by farmers. Results: Farmers were exposed to a geometrical mean of 4.4 mg m 23 inhalable dust [geometrical standard deviation (GSD) 5 4.0], 4 3 10 6 m 23 bacteria and fungal spores (GSD 5 5.2 and 5.9, respectively), 5.9 3 10 3 EU m 23 of endotoxins (GSD 5 8.6), 2 3 10 5 m 23 actinomycetes (GSD 5 15.3),120 mgm 23 b-(1/3)-glucans(GSD 5 4.7)and 5 3 10 5 AU m 23 of hyphae (GSD 5 4.4). Univariate associations were found between one or several of these microbial factors and work operation, visible fungal damage, grain species, lodging of grain, storage technology or harvester type. As assessed by general linear models, storage work was the main predictive determinant for microbial exposure, although grain species and visible fungal damage also were also important. Wet and warm weather throughout the grain growth season were associated with elevated exposure for inhalable dust, b-(1/3)-glucans, endotoxins and hyphae during threshing. The b-(1/3)-glucan exposure could biologically be explained by the fungal spore and hyphal exposure, both variables contributing equally. However, spores were most important during storage work, whereas only hyphae were predictive during threshing. Conclusions: Farmers were exposed to high levels of microorganisms and their components during dusty grain work. Dust prevention and protection may reduce microbial exposure, and may be particularly important in areas with frequent fungal forecasts, when fungal damage has been observed, during storage work or when handling barley.

Abstract: A combine harvester having a threshing and separating mechanism and a grain cleaning mechanism disposed beneath the threshing and separating mechanism and including a grain pan fitted with a movable divider apparatus and operable to receive grain from the threshing and separating mechanism, sieve mechanism operable to receive grain from the grain pan, and a fan operable to blow air through the sieve mechanism, is disclosed wherein an inclination sensing mechanism for sensing the lateral inclination of the combine harvester is operatively associated with an actuator operatively coupled to the grain pan divider apparatus for positionally adjusting the grain pan divider apparatus in response to the output of the inclination sensing mechanism to compensate for any given lateral inclination of the harvester. The sieve mechanism includes sieve sections pivotally mounted for lateral movement about respective fore-and-aft extending axes and operatively coupled to the actuator for positional adjustment thereof to effect a transverse leveling of the sieve mechanism when the combine harvester is laterally inclined.