n full and at a slower speed than for cereals. Augers with a gap between the flight and the barrel are less likely to jam.
The seedcoat of most lentils will darken over time; however the extent of this darkening will vary depending on the original seed coat colour and storage conditions. We could expect lentils to darken faster when stored in warm, moist conditions compared to cool, dry conditions. Under typical farm storage conditions, darkening of lentil seed can be expected to be slow enough that marketing can occur late into the next season. Lentils can also darken very quickly if exposed to sunlight, particularly if they have a light coloured seed coat like green lentils (eg Boomer) or Aldinga red lentils.
Lentils are best not stored in bunkers or in ‘sausage bags’ for any length of time as pockets of moisture can quickly lead to black, mouldy grain which can contaminate the remainder of product. Black, mouldy grain can also taint the sample with a most unpleasant odour, rendering it unacceptable for consumption.
To discourage mould growth and insect infestation, the moisture content of seed stored on farm for the next season should not be over 13%. If the moisture content of harvested grain is too high, aerated storage will prevent spoilage. Alternatively, moving the grain from one silo to another on a warm dry day can help reduce moisture content by 1–2%.
Lentil seed is more prone to mechanical damage than most other pulses. Keep handling to a minimum, particularly when using screw augers.
Damage to silo side walls and even collapse can occur when emptying silos of stored lentil. Growers are advised to store lentil in field bin type silos with low walls or only partially fill taller silos. It is also advised that lentil grain be unloaded slowly and in smaller amounts than normally done with other crops.
Good grain hygiene is important with lentil. Contaminants such as insects and other grains and weed seeds are very undesirable. There is a nil tolerance of animal excreta, rodent carcases, moulds and offensive odours in lentil deliveries. Cereal grains and vetch are particularly difficult to clean out of lentil grain so it is important to take all measure to prevent contamination. Clean all harvesters, grain handling equipment and storage bins prior to harvesting each lentil variety.
Do not store lentil in grain bags (known also as silo, sausage or harvest bags) except as a very, very short-term option. Despite some success stories with lentil in grain bags, there have also been copious failures when appropriate precautions were not taken. Markets have rejected pulse grain because of objectionable taints and odours acquired during improper storage in a grain bag, which is a sealed storage with no aeration.
Lentil pods mature from the bottom of the plant (earliest flowers) to the top.
Croptopping for weed control usually means a portion of the lentil grain will still be immature (green).
Green kernel (right) from premature desiccation of red lentil. A mx. 1% is allowable in receivals.
Desiccation of PBA Flash lentils. Note the green plants growing in the previous wheel tracks.
Desiccation has the added benefit of drying down broadleaf weeds present at harvest.
Lentil is short and prone to lodging. Standing cereal stubble can help improve overall harvest efficiency.
Choose the correct harvesting equipment and settings to maximise grain yield.
Lentils often benefit from grain cleaning to remove contaminants such as cereals and weed seeds.
On-farm storage of lentils increases marketing options. Avoid the use of grain storage bags.
Marketing, enduses and standards
Lentil is grown only to supply human consumption markets, therefore achieving the high quality standard is essential. Australia is a significant exporter of red lentil, most of which is sold into the Indian sub-continent markets. The Australian red lentil prices can vary markedly and are strongly influenced by global markets and environmental conditions. A price of $400–500/t delivered is realistic for budgeting purposes, provided the product meets receival st