Apparatus and method for fumigating stored agricultural commodities

Abstract

An apparatus and method for fumigating stored agricultural commodities such as grain and the like, includes an applicator for porous envelopes or sachets of prepackaged pesticides of the type which react with moisture in the air and produce a toxic gas. The applicator comprises an elongate strip constructed of a flexible, porous, non-hygroscopic material. The strip has two plies which are arranged in an overlying relationship and are interconnected along a side edge thereof, and includes a plurality of seams which extend laterally across the strip and regularly interconnect the plies, and form pockets shaped for receiving the prepackaged pesticide sachets therein. The seams form a flexible hinge between adjacent pockets and interconnect the same to facilitate folding. A sachet is inserted into each pocket, the pocket is closed, and the filled applicator is deployed onto the free surface of an aggregation of stored commodity and arranged in a flat and fully extended position thereover. Water vapor in the air infiltrates the applicator and sachets and reacts with the pesticide to form a gas which permeates the commodity storage and fumigates the same. After the sachets have completely degassed, and the grain depository is vented, a free end of the applicator is grasped, and the same is longitudinally rolled or folded accordian-style along the seams, thereby quickly retreiving each of the gassed sachets, without adulterating the commodity with pesticide residue.