Even though market moisture content can exceed these percentages, it's important to keep grains at those levels during storage. The level jumps to 13% for grain sorghum. This is why it's so important to understand the target grain moisture content levels for the high temperatures of summer. Understand Seasonalityĭealing with moisture can be even more of a challenge if you don't know exactly what you're up against. If you need help measuring how much grain you're moving during this process, a grain gauge bin level monitor will help you keep track of the current grain levels in your bin. The reason this technique can work quite well is it gets rid of the top grain that's likely to be the warmest. One way to address this issue is to periodically unload grain. Periodically UnloadĪs we've alluded to, the excess heat that accumulates in grain bins is part of why it can be such a challenge to control moisture. Running this process for a few hours will really help control moisture. The ideal time for aeration is when it's cooler in the morning. In most cases, bins should remain ventilated throughout the duration of grain storage.īut for aeration, this is typically a process that only needs to be done every few weeks. One main difference between the two is the frequency of when they're used. AerationĪeration is generally viewed as an important complement to ventilation. Whether it's natural or intentional ventilation, having a solution will keep hot air from creating moisture in the grain. Solid ventilation is an absolute must for keeping moisture out of grain bins. Ventilation is definitely in the latter category. Then there are other factors that help to minimize moisture. There are certain factors that increase humidity and encourage moisture. Broken kernels can also reduce aeration, which in turn will raise moisture and potentially lead to spoilage. When grain isn't carefully loaded into bins, the initial quality is going to be lower. The same is true for removing foreign elements. Minimizing broken kernels should be a top goal of any grain loading process. These measures will help keep the storage area in optimal condition. Other important steps include keeping nearby vegetation cut and promptly cleaning up if any grain gets spilled. It's important to carefully inspect the area where the grain will be stored for any type of rodent presence. In addition to drying time, sanitizing should play a role before and during the harvest process. Fortunately, allowing grain to dry after it's taken from the field will reduce the likelihood of those types of problems. If grain is immediately stored, those pests will contaminate the storage area. That means insects and mold can still be present. When grain is first harvested, it's still a live seed.
One of the biggest mistakes someone can make in regards to grain and moisture is not giving it enough time to dry after harvest. Since dealing with moisture is such a big deal for anyone involved with farming grain, here are ten actionable tips for keeping it out of where grain is stored: 1. If moisture isn't carefully controlled, it can ruin part or all of a grain harvest. Keeping moisture away from grain is the perfect example of this type of challenge. In addition to challenges during growing, there's a lot that needs to be carefully managed after harvesting. But that doesn't mean it's easy to produce. Barley, oats, and rye round out the top five crops most commonly stored in grain bins.īecause the demand for grain is so high, it's the top crop for many farmers. Corn is the most popular type of grain, followed by wheat and milled rice. 10 Tips for Protecting Your Grain Bins From MoistureĮvery year, several billion metric tons of grain are produced around the world.