Grain Storage

Grain bins
Figure 1. Stored grain temperature and moisture should be checked in multiple spots at least every two weeks and managed to ensure continued grain quality.

Protecting Your Investment: Keep Stored Grain Cool, Dry

June 30, 2017
A grain drying specialist offers moisture and temperature goals for stored grain and tips to ensure your stored grain stays in good condition. Includes how to measure grain temperature and when and how to aerate grain as well as how long grain can be stored at various temperatures.

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Piled grain and bins

Post-Harvest Grain Marketing: Cleaning Out Corn and Soybean Bins

April 12, 2017
Marketing grain in the bin can take a backseat to field work this time of year; however, given the current market, those with grain in storage need to be vigilant to changes in futures price, adjustments in basis, and accumulating storage expenses. Examples of stored corn and soybean at two Nebraska sites illustrate how storage costs can add up over time.

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grain bins

How to Reduce On-Farm Grain Drying Energy Costs

March 22, 2017

Article reviewed and updated by Chuck Burr, Nebraska Extension Educator

With lower crops prices, grain producers are asking how to reduce the cost of drying grain on the farm. This paper discusses management strategies to minimize energy costs.

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grain bins
Researchers found significant savings in drying grain in layers rather than the more traditional practice of filling the bin and then drying it.

Reduce Drying Time and Energy Cost by Filling Drying Bins in Layers

March 22, 2017
Many grain producers have on-farm grain drying and storage facilities and most have more than one bin equipped with a high capacity aeration fan with heat to reduce drying time. Researchers ran a mathematical analysis to study the advantage of filling drying bins in layers as an rather than the normal practice of filling one bin completely before filling the next bin.

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checking grain moisture

Device to Measure Grain Bag Moisture

March 20, 2017
USDA scientists have developed a new way to determine the moisture content of grain stored in bags. Together with Kansas State University colleagues, Paul Armstrong, an agricultural engineer with USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Manhattan, Kansas, developed a hand-held meter that measures the relative humidity and temperature of the air within the grain. A DIY build for approximately $75.

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grain bins
Stored grain requires careful management to preserve quality as well as your investment and potential income.

Grain Drying and Storage Tips

November 16, 2016
Tips for managing stored grain so it maintains its value. Includes tips for cooling stored grain and managing grain piles or plastic-bagged grain.

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Long-term Grain Storage Requires Good Management

September 16, 2016

Given the low grain prices some grain may be stored for many months or even more than a year, requiring extra care and management, according to North Dakota State University's grain storage expert.

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