Grain Storage Considerations Sam Mc Neill Extension Agricultural

Grain Storage Considerations Sam Mc. Neill Extension Agricultural Engineer UKREC – Princeton, KY 270 -365 -7541 x 213 Email: sam. mcneill@uky. edu Web: www. bae. uky. edu An Equal Opportunity University

Grain Storage Systems • Conventional bins/silos • Horizontal storage

Storage Consideration Topics: 1. Storage capacity & prices in KY 2. Safety considerations 3. Physical and biological considerations 4. Storage management 5. Other resources More info @ bae. uky. edu

Grain Storage Capacity in KY

Cash Corn Price: Ohio Valley

How often should I check my grain? • 2 -weeks until cooled • 2 -4 weeks during winter • Temperature • Moisture • Insects BAE

When Inspecting Stored Grain Always Work in Pairs ! BAE

Grain Inspection Tools 1. PPE – harness / dust masks 2. Portable moisture meter 3. Thermometer 4. Grain/insect probe 5. Bucket /container 6. Psychrometer BAE

Grain Storage Considerations How to minimize spoilage? 1. Control grain moisture 2. Control grain temperature 3. Control grain condition BAE

Allowable Storage Time (days) MC Temperature % 40 50 60 70 80 16 763 339 151 85 47 18 291 130 58 32 18 20 144 64 29 16 22 85 38 17 10 9 6 24 57 26 11 7 4 28 33 15 7 4 3 UK - ASABE Source: BAE 10/24

Losses Caused by Insects and Molds § Heating § Weight loss § Decreased § § germination Mycotoxins Price discounts BAE

Temperature Influence on Insects Temp. range < 32 Effect Death in minutes 40 – 60 Death in days 66 – 77 Sub-optimum 82 – 90 Optimum 95 Development stops 122 Death in minutes Source: P. Fields, USDA 1992 BAE

Molds Like a Warm Environment BAE

Molds Like Moisture § Each mold species has its own moisture preference § Molds grow faster as moisture increases BAE

Equilibrium MC for Corn BAE

Safe Storage Conditions for Corn Winter Summer BAE

Safe Storage Moistures BAE

Adjustments to Recommended Storage Moistures Need to lower moisture content if: Low testweight Broken and foreign material Non-aerated storage Pre-harvest mold damage Storage structure BAE

BAE

Storage Tips to Control Risks § Clean grain prior to binning § Operate augers at capacity and slowest speed possible § Check grain moisture going into storage § Screen grain for mycotoxins § S. L. A. M. BAE

Bin Loading § Manage trash and fines • Control grain damage by combine • Use a spreader to fill the bin • Remove fines/trash from the bin center (core) BAE

Manage Trash and Fines BAE

Core after Filling to Remove Light Wheat Kernels BAE

Winter Moisture Migration 75 OF 35 OF BAE

Grain Spoilage from Moisture Migration § Uniform Temperatures • Prevent moisture migration • Preserves product quality BAE

Stored Grain Temperatures in KY BAE

Aeration Cooling Cycle BAE

Estimated Time for Aeration Cycles (Hours) BAE

Airflow in 30 -ft bin with 10 hp fan BAE

Cost of 3 Aeration Cycles Example for 30 -ft bin @ 10¢/kwh BAE

Five Day Forecast for Jan. 21, 2004 Avg. Hi: 46 Lo: 33 5 d: 40 Source: wpsdtv. com BAE

Hourly Temperatures for Princeton, KY Total fan hours = 70. 5 30 26 14. 5 Date BAE

Off-the-shelf Fan Control with Thermostats HEATING THERMOSTAT COOLING THERMOSTAT Sept. 55 - 65 Oct. 45 - 55 Nov. 35 - 45 RELAY HOUR METER FAN BAE

Commercial Fan Controllers agsense. net agridryllc. com opistormax. com BAE

Temperature Cable System 1. Thermocouple sensor cables 2. Cable suspension system 3. Lead wire extension 4. Readout plug 5. Display instrument D C B A BC D A BAE

Automated Insect Monitoring www. opistormax. com BAE

Automated Insect Monitoring BAE

OPIGIMAC Temperature and Insect Monitoring, Aeration Fan Control System

Resources 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Midwest Plan Service mwps. org Agricultural Engineering Departments in Midwest…at UK bae. uky. edu GEAPS geaps. org USDA Grain Lab in KS ars. usda. gov Grain. Net grainnet. com

Questions ? Sam Mc. Neill Extension Agricultural Engineer University of Kentucky Research and Education Center sam. mcneill@uky. edu 270 -365 -7541 x 213 Mike Montross Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering michael. montross@uky. edu 859 -257 -3000 x 106 BAE