Managing stored grain in hot conditions

Aug 20, 2021 | 11:05 AM

MELFORT, SASK. — Grain that went into the bin during hot weather could be in danger.

Crops combined in those conditions are prone to spoilage in a relatively short period of time.

Crops extension specialist John Ippolito said safe storage of grain is a function of both grain moisture content and grain temperature. Cooling of the grain is a critical part of this management strategy.

Ippolito said there needs to be extra caution for grain that has already been harvested, or will be harvested in the near future.

“As an example, wheat at 14 per cent moisture and 30 C is at risk of spoilage from molds within 40 to 60 days. Cooling that grain to 15 C will extend the safe storage time to 160 to 240 days,” Ippolito said.

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For longer term storage, grain should be cooled down to below 5 C.

Natural air grain drying or aeration systems are very effective at reducing grain temperatures, according to Ippolito.

“Most evenings are now cool enough that running the fans overnight, we should be able to achieve the desired temperatures,” he said.

The amount of time that the fans must run to achieve the desired temperature depends on the airflow rate from the fan. The number of hours required can be calculated by using the formula of 15 divided by the airflow rate per minute.

Ippolito said if the fan is capable of one cubic foot per minute per bushel for the grain in question, it would require 15 hours of runtime to completely pass the cooler air through the grain mass.

by Alice McFarlane