🌾 Grain Shrinkage Calculator
Calculate moisture-related weight & bushel loss when drying corn, soybeans, wheat & more
| Grain | Standard MC% | lbs per Bushel | kg per Bushel | Shrink Factor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corn (Maize) | 15.5% | 56 | 25.40 | 1.183 |
| Soybeans | 13.0% | 60 | 27.22 | 1.127 |
| Wheat (Hard Red) | 13.5% | 60 | 27.22 | 1.092 |
| Wheat (Soft) | 13.5% | 60 | 27.22 | 1.092 |
| Grain Sorghum | 14.0% | 56 | 25.40 | 1.127 |
| Oats | 14.0% | 32 | 14.52 | 1.087 |
| Barley | 13.5% | 48 | 21.77 | 1.092 |
| Sunflower Seeds | 10.0% | 25 | 11.34 | 1.111 |
| Initial MC% | Target 15.5% | Bu Lost / 1,000 | % Shrinkage | Metric Equiv. (MT lost) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16% | 15.5% | 5.9 | 0.59% | 0.083 |
| 18% | 15.5% | 29.6 | 2.96% | 0.415 |
| 20% | 15.5% | 53.3 | 5.33% | 0.747 |
| 22% | 15.5% | 77.1 | 7.71% | 1.080 |
| 25% | 15.5% | 112.4 | 11.24% | 1.574 |
| 28% | 15.5% | 147.6 | 14.76% | 2.068 |
| 30% | 15.5% | 171.6 | 17.16% | 2.404 |
| Grain | Bu per MT | MT per 1,000 bu | lbs per MT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corn | 39.37 | 25.40 | 2,204.6 |
| Soybeans | 36.74 | 27.22 | 2,204.6 |
| Wheat | 36.74 | 27.22 | 2,204.6 |
| Grain Sorghum | 39.37 | 25.40 | 2,204.6 |
| Oats | 68.89 | 14.52 | 2,204.6 |
| Barley | 45.93 | 21.77 | 2,204.6 |
Grain shrinkage causes loss because of moisture. Naturally grains store humidity, and during drying you remove water, which reduces the whole weight The Grain Shrinkage Calculator is an agricultural program to estimate the loss during drying and handling of grains.
Shrinkage shows the weight loss of product because of decrease of water content. A calculator considers grain dried under the dry limit, set by the Canadian Grain Commission, which causes loss for the farmer. This is a big problem, because even tiny moisture differences affect the income from a load of grains.
How to calculate grain weight loss from drying
No unique standard exists to estimate shrinkgae. Various methods count, and several of them are described in agricultural publications with examples. These explain also how to use shrinkage to plan drying and alternative sales.
Here is a sample of how it works. If corn of 25.5% humidity is dried until 15.5%, that removes 10 percentage points. The shrinkage matches 10.0 x 1.183, so 11.83% of the original weight.
That shows loss only because of drying.
A table about grain shrinkage helps to estimate it according to moisture content. Programs convert pounds to bushels, count shrinkage or expansion because of moisture changes. It operates for corn, soy, wheat and other species on request.
The right value for handling loss, occasionally called invisible shrink, is hard to foresee, it ranges between buyers. Local grain services can estimate differently for farmers. For wheat the average of humidity across several loads matters for the final price.
Various strategies help to address shrink when planning to sell grain during harvest. A farmer can sell wet grain and accept the moisture loss. Otherwise he lets the elevator dry until 15% and takes the fee from the price.
The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service created an app for users. It bases on other data and does not guarantee its accuracy.
A simple formula also exists. Take 100 minus present humidity, divide by 100 minus desired humidity. For instance, 25% and 15% give 75 ÷ 85 = 0.882.
That is the correct factor that some local feedlotsuse for high moisture corn.
