Post on 08-Apr-2018
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…
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Dry
Core/ Clean
AerateMonitor
Protect
Dry
Core/ Clean
Aerate
Monitor
Protect
6
The of Grain StorageDry
Core/ Clean
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You can’t IMPROVE grain quality in the bin…
… but you CAN make it worse
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Storage
Quality
Factors
Dry
Core/ Clean
Aerate
Monitor
Protect
8
How Wet is Too Wet?Dry
Core/ Clean
Aerate
Monitor
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Source: NDSU Publ. AE701 “Grain Drying”
Maximum recommended moisture contents for safe storage
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Allowable Storage TimeDry
Core/ Clean
Aerate
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Source: NDSU
Spoils faster Spoils slower
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Allowable Storage TimeDry
Core/ Clean
Aerate
Monitor
Protect
Source: USDA Research, Iowa State University; Transactions of ASAE 333-337
Spoils faster Spoils slower
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Allowable Storage TimeDry
Core/ Clean
Aerate
Monitor
Protect
Source: NDSU
Spoils faster Spoils slower
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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
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Coring BinsDry
Core/ Clean
Aerate
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• Fines collect
in centre
• What to do
with fines:
– Feed
– Sell
– Clean
Source: University of Minnesota
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Bin FlowDry
Core/ Clean
Aerate
Monitor
ProtectSHORT
(H < 1.5x W)
TALL
(H > 1.5x W)
HOPPER
?
16
Cleaning GrainDry
Core/ Clean
Aerate
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Protect
Size separation
• Screener-Scalpers
• Vibratory
• Rotary
• Gravity
• Drag-Scalpers
Density separation
• Aspirators
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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
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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
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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
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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
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EMC Chart – SoybeansDry
Core/ Clean
Aerate
Monitor
Protect
Air
Temperature
(°C)
EMC (% wet basis) at Relative Humidity
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
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EMC Chart – Soft Winter WheatDry
Core/ Clean
Aerate
Monitor
Protect
Air
Temperature
(°C)
EMC (% wet basis) at Relative Humidity
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
Target: 14% moisture
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EMC Chart – Hard Winter WheatDry
Core/ Clean
Aerate
Monitor
Protect
Air
Temperature
(°C)
EMC (% wet basis) at Relative Humidity
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
Target: 14% moisture
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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???”
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BINcast®Dry
Core/ Clean
Aerate
Monitor
Protect
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BINcast®Dry
Core/ Clean
Aerate
Monitor
Protect
29
Fan Control OptionsDry
Core/ Clean
Aerate
Monitor
Protect
30
Computerized
Fan Control OptionsDry
Core/ Clean
Aerate
Monitor
Protect
31
Humidistat
Fan Control OptionsDry
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
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Aerate every time the average outdoor temperature changes 8-10°C
Understand fan airflowDry
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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
Bin Fan Selector ToolDry
Core/ Clean
Aerate
Monitor
Protect
39
Bin Fan Selector ToolDry
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
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44
Catching grain bugsDry
Core/ Clean
Aerate
Monitor
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45
Catching grain bugsDry
Core/ Clean
Aerate
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46
Catching grain bugsDry
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47
Dry
Core/ Clean
Aerate
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“Seeing insects in the grain
when you are loading the truck
may be TOO LATE to do
anything”
48
Common stored grain insectsDry
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• 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
Protect your valueDry
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…stuff happens
Have a backup plan.
51
Production Insurance (Agricorp)Dry
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…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
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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
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• 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
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• 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
james.dyck@ontario.ca
Deliver
Corn
At
Max.
Price