On-farm Bin Storage

Sandra M. FrostUW Cooperative Extension Service

Crops

• Small grains, barley, wheat, oats

• Corn

Bin Types

• Low profile bins 12-13 ft depth

• Deep bins 17-18 ft depth

• Hopper-bottom bins

Bin Systems

• Safety equipment• Loaders/augers• Power sweep• Perforated Floor• Fans• Dryers & heat recyclers• Aerators• Ventilators

Storage Goals

• Avoid crop loss at harvest

• Prolong crop storage life

• Maintain crop quality

• Increase value of crop

• National/international availability

Storage Principles

• Proper crop condition going into storage

• Control moisture

• Control temperature

• Control insects

Grain Conditioning Technology

• We dry a crop because we choose to harvest a slightly “wet” crop to avoid harvest losses

Management

• Moisture content for crops:– Shelled corn at 13% to 15.5%– Wheat, barley, oats at 13%– Sunflowers at 8% to 10%

• No advantage to frozen grain• Clean grain has uniform air spaces• Distribute/eliminate fines in bin

S.L.A.M.

• Sanitation

• Loading

• Aeration

• Monitoring

Bin Sanitation

• Clean and sanitize aeration ducts, augers, floors

• Remove weeds, trash, moldy crop

• Spray insecticides while bin is empty

• Clean/inspect/replace aeration equipment and dryers

Loading

• Optimize handling & storage operations

• Operate augers at capacity, slow speed

• Use a spreader to fill bin

• Core the fines from center of grain

• level peaked grain ASAP

• Record grain moistures going into storage

• Screen for mycotoxins

Aeration Goals

• To cool dried grain uniformly to 30-35oF.

• Move cooling front completely through and out of grain mass

• Avoid condensation on inside walls/roof

• Maintain low grain temps as long as possible

Aeration

• Aeration rates depend upon 4 factors.– Bin type– Air distribution system– Desired grain moisture content– Management practices

Fall

Spring

Aeration

• Air flow either positive pressure (flow up) or negative (flow down)

• Ventilation required during fan operation• Fan operation times depend upon airflow rate

Monitoring

• Check for insects while grain temperature is above 50 F. If found then fumigate. Fumigation will not be effective below 50 F.

• Temperatures below 50 F will control insects

• Inspect grain surface at least every other week

• Walk on grain, poke into it, check for hot spots or insect infestations.

From Warm to Cool

From Wet to Dry

Drying

• Warms the kernel – water leaves kernel through osmosis

• Evaporates water from the kernel surface

• For grain, to remove 1 lb water takes 1300 BTU’s at 60oF.

Drying Methods

• Equilibrium– Natural air and fans– Relative vapor pressure– Charts– Drying front moves through grain

Drying Methods

• Non-equilibrium– Heated air in a bin or column dryer

Quantity of Grain

Drying

• Calculations to get the amount of grain stored• You can calculate the size of the job• You can relate it all to the speed of harvest for

bin management

Safety

• Safety equipment• Loaders/augers• Power sweep• Perforated Floor• Fans• Dryers & heat recyclers• Aerators• Ventilators

Bin Safety

• Enter a bin only if you know its history and if you are not alone

• If grain has not been removed you should see a cone in the middle of the bin.

• If grain has been removed you should see a flat area or inverted cone, and a shiny surface on the side of the bin. If you do not see these signs, surface may be crusted and unsafe to enter.

Bin Safety

• Label bins to warn of entrapment hazard• Lock entrances• Install ladders inside bins• Do not enter while loading/unloading

Bin Safety

• Shut off and lock out power when entering

• Wear NIOSH-approved dust filter respirators

• Be cautious of grain that is out of condition

• Do not work alone in bins

Bin Safety

• 3 kinds of entrapment– Flowing grain: auger creates funnel effect– Grain bridge over hollow cavity– Avalanche of vertical grain wall

Bin Safety

• Prevention– Lock out power sources before entering– Work from the top down– Wear body harness, have inside ladder

Precaution !

• The maximum temperature for drying barley is 100 F. Higher temperatures will kill the embryo in the barley kernel.

• A dead embryo

will NOT make beer!