In the third of a four part series, Milling and Grain take a closer look at the management of stored grain
by Kirk Nelson, Director of Marketing and Sales, Behlen Mfg Co USA
First published in Milling and Grain, July 2015
Even with proper aeration, grain can only be stored for a limited time. It will deteriorate faster as temperature and moisture content increase. The allowable storage time is based on the length of time corn can be stored before losing 0.5 percent of dry matter. With this amount of dry matter decomposition, it is assumed that the corn loses some quality.
For each 10° F (5° C) increase in temperature, storage time is cut roughly in half when held at a given moisture content. Grain moisture content will change with relative humidity of the surrounding air and the grain temperature. Contact your local extension office for detailed information on stored grains.
Under certain conditions, no matter how long the fan is operated, grain may not reach the desired moisture content that will allow it to be stored without spoilage. Keep in mind that air temperature and relative humidity are not constant. Use the daily average for determining final moisture content.
It is recommended to use aeration when storing grain for short periods in a wet holding tank at various moisture contents. If no aeration is provided, grain may deteriorate much faster due to regions of higher temperatures that may begin to develop, producing heat and moisture that accelerate deterioration. The purpose of aeration is to reduce high temperature areas and to keep all grain at a constant temperature.
Read the full article in Milling and Grain HERE.
The Global Miller
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