On-Farm Grain Storage - FarmSmart · 17-2-2017 · On-Farm Grain Storage ... EMC Chart –Soft Winter Wheat Dry Core/ Clean Aerate Monitor Protect Air ... Title: Grain Storage:

On-Farm Grain Storage

Is It Your Weakest Link?

James Dyck, OMAFRAEngineering Specialist, Crop Systems and Environment

FarmSmart 2017 - Guelph

Ontario Grain Storage by the Numbers

On-Farm

Storage

Commercial

Storage

1999 2,750,000

tonnes

4,200,000

tonnes

2014 9,439,000

tonnes

5,887,000

tonnes

Growth 3.4x 1.4x

Data source: Agricorp, Statistics Canada, OABA 2

3

4

Dry

Core/ Clean

AerateMonitor

Protect

Deliver

Corn*

AtMax.

Price

*or beans,

wheat, etc…

5

Dry

Core/ Clean

AerateMonitor

Protect

Dry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

6

The of Grain StorageDry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

You can’t IMPROVE grain quality in the bin…

… but you CAN make it worse

7

Storage

Quality

Factors

Dry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

8

How Wet is Too Wet?Dry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

Source: NDSU Publ. AE701 “Grain Drying”

Maximum recommended moisture contents for safe storage

9

Allowable Storage TimeDry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

Source: NDSU

Spoils faster Spoils slower

10


Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

Source: USDA Research, Iowa State University; Transactions of ASAE 333-337


11


Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

Source: NDSU


12

Tweaking Drying TemperatureDry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

• Measure harvest test weight

• Set plenum temperature, begin drying

Measure dried test weight

• Reduce plenum temperature 10°F

Measure dried test weight again

• If test weight increasing reduce 10°F

• When dried test weight doesn’t change

increase plenum temp 10°F

GOAL: Slower drying = HIGHER QUALITY

Source: John Gnadke, Advanced Grain Systems Inc. 515 964-988513

FinesDry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

14

Coring BinsDry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

• Fines collect

in centre

• What to do

with fines:

– Feed

– Sell

– Clean

Source: University of Minnesota

15

Bin FlowDry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

ProtectSHORT

(H < 1.5x W)

TALL

(H > 1.5x W)

HOPPER

?

16

Cleaning GrainDry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

Size separation

• Screener-Scalpers

• Vibratory

• Rotary

• Gravity

• Drag-Scalpers

Density separation

• Aspirators

17

Fines ProductionDry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

Rule of thumb:

For every 2-3% increase in damaged

kernels, 0.5% weight is lost.

Corn average:

0.5% breakage per elevation

18

Grain BreakageDry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

MORE

• High speeds

• High drop heights

• Small spouts

• High-temp-dried

• Colder

• Very dry

LESS

• Slow speeds

• Low drop heights

• Large spouts

• Low-temp-dried

• Warmer

• Wetter ***

19

How much do you handle your grain?Dry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

20

Why Aerate?Dry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

REMOVE field heat

EQUALIZE MOISTURE in the bin

PREVENT CONVECTIVE AIR

MOVEMENT within the grain mass

CRITICAL to long-term storage

21

Equilibrium Moisture ContentDry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

… the moisture level grain will reach when

exposed to air at a certain temperature

and relative humidity

22

EMC Chart – CornDry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

Air

Temperature

(°C)

EMC (% wet basis) at Relative Humidity

50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

0 13.7 15.1 16.6 18.4 21.3

5 13.1 14.4 15.9 17.8 20.7

10 12.5 13.8 15.4 17.3 20.2

15 11.9 13.3 14.9 16.8 19.8

20 11.5 12.8 14.4 16.4 19.4

25 11.0 12.4 14.0 16.0 19.0

Target: 15.5% moisture

23

EMC Chart – SoybeansDry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

Air

Temperature

(°C)


50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

0 10.0 11.8 13.7 16.2 19.8

5 9.8 11.5 13.5 15.9 19.6

10 9.5 11.2 13.2 15.7 19.4

15 9.2 11.0 13.0 15.5 19.2

20 9.0 10.7 12.8 15.2 19.0

25 8.7 10.5 12.5 15.0 18.8

Target: 13% moisture

24

EMC Chart – Soft Winter WheatDry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

Air

Temperature

(°C)


50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

0 12.5 13.5 14.6 16.1 18.2

5 12.1 13.1 14.2 15.7 17.9

10 11.7 12.7 13.9 15.3 17.5

15 11.4 12.4 13.5 15.0 17.2

20 11.1 12.1 13.2 14.7 17.0

25 10.8 11.8 13.0 14.4 16.7


25

EMC Chart – Hard Winter WheatDry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

Air

Temperature

(°C)


50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

0 13.6 15.1 16.6 17.5 18.5

5 13.1 14.6 16.1 17.9 20.3

10 12.7 14.2 15.7 17.4 19.8

15 11.7 13.1 14.5 17.0 19.3

20 12.1 13.4 14.9 16.5 18.8

25 11.8 13.1 14.5 16.2 18.4


26

BINcast®Dry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

www.weathercentral.ca/bincast.cfm

10-day forecasts of air temperature,

relative humidity and EMC

Answer the age-old question:

“When do I turn on my fan???”

27

http://www.weathercentral.ca/bincast.cfm

BINcast®Dry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

28

BINcast®Dry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

29

Fan Control OptionsDry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

30

Computerized


Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

31

Humidistat


Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

32

Timer

Convective Air – Cold WeatherDry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

33

Convective Air – Warm WeatherDry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

34

Time Needed to Change Grain Temp.

Airflow Rate Grain Cooling Time (hrs.)

L/s/m³ cfm/bu Fall Winter Spring

0.65 1/20 300 400 240

1.3 1/10 150 200 120

2.6 1/5 75 100 60

3.2 1/4 60 80 48

4.3 1/3 45 61 36

6.5 1/2 30 40 24

9.7 3/4 20 27 16

13.0 1 15 20 12

Dry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

35

Aerate every time the average outdoor temperature changes 8-10°C

Understand fan airflowDry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

36

CFM = cubic feet per minute

L/s = litres per second

Fan HPStatic pressure (inches of water column)

0 1 2 3 4

3 5,300 4,500 3,800 3,400 3,000

5 9,500 8,900 7,700 6,700 6,000

7 ½ 12,000 11,300 10,400 9,400 8,600

Understand static pressureDry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

37

U-tube manometer

Bin Fan Selector ToolDry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

http://webapps.bbe.umn.edu/fans/

Input:

• Grain type

• Bin size

• Desired airflow

(CFM/bu)

• Fan size (if known)

Output:

• Required fan size

• Estimated static

pressure

• Estimated Fan HP

• Airflow at various

depths

38

http://webapps.bbe.umn.edu/fans/


Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

39


Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

40

Aerate to prevent insect problemsDry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

Adapted from Dr. Kenneth Hellevang P.E., North Dakota State University Extension Service 41

Monitor bins OFTENDry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

• Check bins REGULARLY, minimum monthly

• Use your EYES to evaluate the grain

– Colour: bright (not dusty or dull)

– Moisture on the underside

of the bin roof?

– Signs of insects?

• Use your NOSE to pick up off odours

• Check static pressure below the aeration floor

• Keep WRITTEN RECORDS of inspections43

Monitoring toolsDry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

44

Catching grain bugsDry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

45


Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

46


Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

47

Dry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

“Seeing insects in the grain

when you are loading the truck

may be TOO LATE to do

anything”

48

Common stored grain insectsDry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

• Indian meal moth*

• Rusty grain beetle*

• Granary weevil

• Lesser grain borer

• Grain lice

• Grain mites

* Malathion resistant!

49

Found a bug? Not sure what it is?Dry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

www.grainscanada.gc.ca/storage-

entrepose/ipi-iir-eng.htm

Eight common insect pests

Insect identification tool50

http://www.grainscanada.gc.ca/storage-entrepose/ipi-iir-eng.htm

Protect your valueDry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

…stuff happens

Have a backup plan.

51

Production Insurance (Agricorp)Dry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

…only during the period from

seeding or planting until harvest

…loss or damage due to storage

conditions is not insured.

52

Produce Insurance (private)Dry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

53

Extension of farm insurance

Covers crop in transport, storage

from harvest to point of sale

“Named perils” vs “broad coverage”

Named Perils (example)Dry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

54

• Earthquake

• Building collapse

• Flood

• Collision / derailment / upset

• Impact by vehicle

• Theft

• Vandalism

• Fire

• Lightning

• Explosion

• Smoke

• Windstorm

• Hail

• Riot

What’s missing??

- insects

- poor management

Protect yourselfDry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

55

• No loose clothing

• Safety boots

• Safety glasses

• Hard hat

• Gloves

• Hearing protection

• Respirator

• Lock out / tag out

• Safety harness & tether

• Bin entry protocol

• Whistle

• Cell phone

• BIN BUDDY

Dry

Core/ Clean

Aerate

Monitor

Protect

56

Force to free

160-lb person

from waist-

deep grain:

Human

pulling

force:

Summary

57

» Dry grain to preserve it from spoilage

» Core bins to remove fines

» Aerate to maintain bin conditions

» Monitor to avoid problems developing

» Protect value with insurance

You can’t IMPROVE grain quality in the bin…

… work to maintain the quality you have.

Thank you!(905) 562-1679

[email protected]

Deliver

Corn

At

Max.

Price

Documents

On-Farm Grain Storage - FarmSmart · 17-2-2017 · On-Farm Grain Storage ... EMC Chart –Soft Winter Wheat Dry Core/ Clean Aerate Monitor Protect Air ... Title: Grain Storage: