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On-farm Bin Storage. Sandra M. Frost UW Cooperative Extension Service. Crops. Small grains, barley, wheat, oats Corn. Bin Types. Low profile bins 12-13 ft depth Deep bins 17-18 ft depth Hopper-bottom bins. Bin Systems. Safety equipment Loaders/augers Power sweep Perforated Floor
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On-farm Bin Storage Sandra M. Frost UW Cooperative Extension Service
Crops • Small grains, barley, wheat, oats • Corn
Bin Types • Low profile bins 12-13 ft depth • Deep bins 17-18 ft depth • Hopper-bottom bins
Bin Systems • Safety equipment • Loaders/augers • Power sweep • Perforated Floor • Fans • Dryers & heat recyclers • Aerators • Ventilators
Storage Goals • Avoid crop loss at harvest • Prolong crop storage life • Maintain crop quality • Increase value of crop • National/international availability
Storage Principles • Proper crop condition going into storage • Control moisture • Control temperature • Control insects
Grain Conditioning Technology • We dry a crop because we choose to harvest a slightly “wet” crop to avoid harvest losses
Management • Moisture content for crops: • Shelled corn at 13% to 15.5% • Wheat, barley, oats at 13% • Sunflowers at 8% to 10% • No advantage to frozen grain • Clean grain has uniform air spaces • Distribute/eliminate fines in bin
S.L.A.M. • Sanitation • Loading • Aeration • Monitoring
Bin Sanitation • Clean and sanitize aeration ducts, augers, floors • Remove weeds, trash, moldy crop • Spray insecticides while bin is empty • Clean/inspect/replace aeration equipment and dryers
Loading • Optimize handling & storage operations • Operate augers at capacity, slow speed • Use a spreader to fill bin • Core the fines from center of grain • level peaked grain ASAP • Record grain moistures going into storage • Screen for mycotoxins
Aeration Goals • To cool dried grain uniformly to 30-35oF. • Move cooling front completely through and out of grain mass • Avoid condensation on inside walls/roof • Maintain low grain temps as long as possible
Aeration • Aeration rates depend upon 4 factors. • Bin type • Air distribution system • Desired grain moisture content • Management practices Fall Spring
Aeration • Air flow either positive pressure (flow up) or negative (flow down) • Ventilation required during fan operation • Fan operation times depend upon airflow rate
Monitoring • Check for insects while grain temperature is above 50 F. If found then fumigate. Fumigation will not be effective below 50 F. • Temperatures below 50 F will control insects • Inspect grain surface at least every other week • Walk on grain, poke into it, check for hot spots or insect infestations.
From Warm to Cool From Wet to Dry
Drying • Warms the kernel – water leaves kernel through osmosis • Evaporates water from the kernel surface • For grain, to remove 1 lb water takes 1300 BTU’s at 60oF.
Drying Methods • Equilibrium • Natural air and fans • Relative vapor pressure • Charts • Drying front moves through grain
Drying Methods • Non-equilibrium • Heated air in a bin or column dryer
Drying • Calculations to get the amount of grain stored • You can calculate the size of the job • You can relate it all to the speed of harvest for bin management
Safety • Safety equipment • Loaders/augers • Power sweep • Perforated Floor • Fans • Dryers & heat recyclers • Aerators • Ventilators
Bin Safety • Enter a bin only if you know its history and if you are not alone • If grain has not been removed you should see a cone in the middle of the bin. • If grain has been removed you should see a flat area or inverted cone, and a shiny surface on the side of the bin. If you do not see these signs, surface may be crusted and unsafe to enter.
Bin Safety • Label bins to warn of entrapment hazard • Lock entrances • Install ladders inside bins • Do not enter while loading/unloading
Bin Safety • Shut off and lock out power when entering • Wear NIOSH-approved dust filter respirators • Be cautious of grain that is out of condition • Do not work alone in bins
Bin Safety • 3 kinds of entrapment • Flowing grain: auger creates funnel effect • Grain bridge over hollow cavity • Avalanche of vertical grain wall
Bin Safety • Prevention • Lock out power sources before entering • Work from the top down • Wear body harness, have inside ladder
Precaution ! • The maximum temperature for drying barley is 100 F. Higher temperatures will kill the embryo in the barley kernel. • A dead embryo will NOT make beer!