Grain storage is a process of preserving harvested crop, and grain storage require the management of moisture levels to prevent spoilage. Grain is an biological product that remains active after harvest, so grain behave like a sponge by absorbing or releasing moisture based off the surrounding air. This relationship between the grain and the air is known as equilibrium moisture content, or EMC.
If the air in a storage facility have high humidity, the grain will absorb moisture from the air to reach equilibrium, but if the air is dry, the grain will release moisture into the air. Because grain can absorb moisture from humid air, grain may reach a moisture level that is too high for safe storage, and high moisture levels in grain can lead to the growth of mold or the occurrence of heat damage. Different types of grain has different moisture requirements, and you must identify the specific moisture limit for every type of grain you store.
How to Keep Grain Dry and Safe
For example, corn, wheat, and soybeans each has specific safe storage maximums, but canola and sunflower seeds is more sensitive than corn or wheat. If you store canola and sunflower seeds at the same moisture level that you use for corn, the canola and sunflower seeds may spoil. Therefore, you must understand the specific needs of each grain type because different grain types reacts differently to moisture.
The moisture level of the grain at the time of harvest affect the total cost of grain storage. If you harvest grain when the grain is too wet, you will have to pay more for drying, and higher drying costs will reduce your profit. However, if you harvest grain when the grain is too dry, the grain may suffer from mechanical damage such as kernel cracking, and kernel cracking will reduce the market value of the grain.
You should of aim to find a moisture level that balances the cost of drying with the risk of mechanical damage. You can manage grain moisture through various aeration methods, and you must choose an aeration method that fit your budget and your volume of grain. Natural air drying is an aeration method that use ambient air to dry grain, and natural air drying is a low-cost method because it dont require high temperatures.
However, natural air drying is a slow process that can take many week to complete. High-temperature drying is an alternative aeration method that is much faster than natural air drying, but high-temperature drying carry a risk of heat damage if you do not manage the temperature settings correcty. Monitoring the grain after the grain is placed in the bin is a necessary step in grain storage.
You should monitor the grain for hot spot because hot spots are an indication that moisture is moving through the grain or that the grain is beginning to rot. You can monitor the grain by using temperature cables, and you should check the temperature cables on a weekly basis. Checking the temperature cables frequent allows you to identify problems early so that you can address the moisture issues before mold or heat damage loses the grain.
Successful grain storage require that you manage the air, the temperature, and the moisture content of the grain.