An Equal Opportunity University

Grain Storage Considerations

Sam McNeillExtension Agricultural Engineer

UKREC – Princeton, KY

270-365-7541 x 213

Email: sam.mcneill@uky.edu

Web: www.bae.uky.edu

Grain Storage SystemsGrain Storage Systems

• Conventional bins/silos

• Horizontal storage

Storage Consideration Topics:Storage Consideration Topics:

1. Storage capacity & prices in KY

2. Safety considerations

3. Physical and biological considerations

4. Storage management

5. Other resources

More info @bae.uky.edu

Grain Storage Capacity in KYGrain Storage Capacity in KY

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010

M b

u

Total

On-Farm

Off-Farm

Cash Corn Price: Ohio Valley

100

200

300

400

500

600

Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar April May June July

Cen

ts/b

u

01-02 02-03 03-04 04-05 05-06 06-07

07-08 08-09

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How often should I check my grain?How often should I check my grain?

• 2-weeks until cooled

• 2-4 weeks during winter

• Temperature

• Moisture

• Insects

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When Inspecting Stored When Inspecting Stored Grain Always Work in Pairs !Grain Always Work in Pairs !

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Grain Inspection ToolsGrain Inspection Tools

1. PPE – harness / dust masks

2. Portable moisture meter

3. Thermometer

4. Grain/insect probe

5. Bucket /container

6. Psychrometer

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Grain Storage Grain Storage ConsiderationsConsiderations

How to minimize spoilage? 1. Control grain moisture2. Control grain

temperature3. Control grain condition

10/24UK - BAE

Allowable Storage Time (days)Allowable Storage Time (days)

MC Temperature

% 40 50 60 70 80

16 763 339 151 85 47

18 291 130 58 32 18

20 144 64 29 16 9

22 85 38 17 10 624 57 26 11 7 4

28 33 15 7 4 3

Source: ASABE

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Losses Caused by Insects and Losses Caused by Insects and MoldsMolds

Heating Weight loss Decreased

germination Mycotoxins Price discounts

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Temperature Influence on Temperature Influence on InsectsInsects

Temp. range Effect

< 32 Death in minutes

40 – 60 Death in days

66 – 77 Sub-optimum

82 – 90 Optimum

95 Development stops

122 Death in minutes

Source: P. Fields, USDA 1992

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Molds Like a Warm EnvironmentMolds Like a Warm Environment

Fungus Min OptimumA. restrictus 41 – 50 86 – 95A. glaucus 32 – 41 86 – 95A. candidus 50 – 59 113 – 122A. flavus 50 – 59 104 – 113Penicillium 23 - 32 68 - 77

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Molds Like MoistureMolds Like Moisture

Each mold species has its own moisture preference

Molds grow faster as moisture increases

FungusMinimumRH (%)

Aspergillus restrictus 70Aspergillus glaucus 73Aspergillus candidus 80Aspergillus ochraceus 80Aspergillus flavus 85Penicillium 80 - 90

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Equilibrium MC for CornEquilibrium MC for Corn

Temperature C F 40 50 60 65 70 80 902 35 11.8 13.3 14.8 15.7 16.6 18.7 21.74 40 11.5 12.9 14.5 15.3 16.2 18.3 21.3

10 50 10.9 12.3 13.8 14.7 15.5 17.6 20.516 60 10.3 11.8 13.3 14.1 15.0 17.0 19.9

Source: ASAE Data D245.4 / Average of two Prediction Eqns.

Relative Humidity, %

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Safe Storage Conditions for Safe Storage Conditions for CornCorn

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110

Temperature, F

Gra

in M

ois

ture

, %w

b

70%

65%

60%

Unsafe

Safer

Winter Summer

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Safe Storage MoisturesSafe Storage Moistures

Months Corn Wheat Soybeans

Sept – Oct 14 13.5 12

Nov – Mar 15 14 13

Apr - May 14 13 12

June – Aug 13 12.5 11

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Adjustments to Adjustments to Recommended Storage Recommended Storage

MoisturesMoistures

Need to lower moisture content if:

Low testweightBroken and foreign materialNon-aerated storagePre-harvest mold damageStorage structure

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Cost of Storing Corn(@ $ 4.00 /bu)

0

5

10

15

20

25

Grain Moisture, %wb

Co

st, c

/bu

LP Gas 8.4 5.6 2.8 0

Wt loss 13.6 9.2 4.7 0

12.0 13.0 14.0 15.0

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Storage Tips to Control RisksStorage Tips to Control Risks

Clean grain prior to binning Operate augers at capacity and

slowest speed possible Check grain moisture going into

storage Screen grain for mycotoxins S.L.A.M.

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Bin LoadingBin Loading

Manage trash and fines• Control grain damage by

combine• Use a spreader to fill the bin• Remove fines/trash from the

bin center (core)

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Manage Trash and FinesManage Trash and Fines

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Core after Filling to Remove Core after Filling to Remove Light Wheat KernelsLight Wheat Kernels

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Winter Moisture MigrationWinter Moisture Migration

7575OOFF 3535OOFF

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Grain Spoilage from Grain Spoilage from Moisture MigrationMoisture Migration

Uniform Temperatures• Prevent

moisture migration

• Preserves product quality

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30

40

50

60

70

80

J A S O N D J F M A M J J

Month

Tem

pera

ture

, FStored Grain Temperatures in KYStored Grain Temperatures in KY

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Aeration Cooling CycleAeration Cooling Cycle

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Estimated Time for Aeration Estimated Time for Aeration Cycles Cycles (Hours)(Hours)

Cfm/bu Fall Winter Spring

1/10 150 200 120 C

¼ 60 80 48 C

½ 30 40 24 C

¾ 20 27 16 I

1.0 15 20 12 I

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Airflow in 30-ft bin with 10 hp Airflow in 30-ft bin with 10 hp fanfan

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Cost of 3 Aeration CyclesCost of 3 Aeration CyclesExample for 30-ft bin @ 10Example for 30-ft bin @ 10¢/kwh¢/kwh

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Five Day Forecast for Jan. 21, Five Day Forecast for Jan. 21, 20042004

Source: wpsdtv.com

AvgAvg..Hi: 46Hi: 46

Lo: 33Lo: 33

5d: 405d: 40

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20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

60

1/18 1/19 1/20 1/21 1/22

Date

Hourly Temperatures for Princeton, KYHourly Temperatures for Princeton, KY

2630 14.5

Total fan hours = 70.5

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Off-the-shelf Fan Control with Off-the-shelf Fan Control with ThermostatsThermostats

HOUR METER

HEATINGTHERMOSTAT

COOLINGTHERMOSTAT

FAN

RELAY

Sept. 55 - 65Oct. 45 - 55Nov. 35 - 45

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Commercial Fan Commercial Fan ControllersControllers

opistormax.com

agsense.net

agridryllc.com

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Temperature Cable SystemTemperature Cable System

1. Thermocouple sensor cables

2. Cable suspension system

3. Lead wire extension

4. Readout plug5. Display

instrument

DABC

A

DC

B

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Automated Insect Automated Insect MonitoringMonitoring

www.opistormax.com

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Automated Insect Automated Insect MonitoringMonitoring

OPIGIMAC Temperature and Insect OPIGIMAC Temperature and Insect Monitoring, Aeration Fan Control SystemMonitoring, Aeration Fan Control System

ResourcesResources

1. Midwest Plan Servicemwps.org

2. Agricultural Engineering Departments in Midwest…at UK bae.uky.edu

3. GEAPSgeaps.org

4. USDA Grain Lab in KSars.usda.gov

5. GrainNetgrainnet.com

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Questions ?Questions ?

Sam McNeillExtension Agricultural Engineer

University of KentuckyResearch and Education Center

sam.mcneill@uky.edu270-365-7541 x 213

Mike MontrossBiosystems and Agricultural Engineering

michael.montross@uky.edu 859-257-3000 x106