Management systems help protect grain
Strategic grain marketing carries more weight when commodity prices are low. For Lake Wilson, Minnesota farmer Gene Stoel, adding more on-farm storage and the technology to manage it was part of the strategy to get more value from each crop.
“It does open up marketing opportunities,” Stoel says. “If I had to sell everything right out of the field, I would miss out on the basis improvements that often happen after harvest.”
It’s not uncommon for farmers to hold tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, of bushels of grain in their bins. Having that much grain on hand requires diligent management to maintain conditions. That puts lot at stake.
Advnces in technology are helping farmers monitor and manage stored grain more closely.
For storage risks, the more the scarier
When Stoel added storage capacity to his farm three years ago, he included management technology to help protect his grain assets. Some of the tools he added include:
- Oversized fans to ensure that air could move through the grain mass
- Automatic fan controllers
- Temperature sensors
- Moisture sensors
One of the primary motivations Stoel saw for including management technology was to keep his soybeans hydrated, so he installed a bin-manager system. Soybeans that are too dry are at risk for cracking and other damage. Storing soybeans at the proper moisture level keeps them in condition and helps him market them at the optimal weight.
“It gives me peace of mind because the heat and moisture are being monitored,” Stoel adds.
“An average-size farm bin used to be 30,000 to 55,000 bushels,” says Jon Engelstad, international sales manager for Superior Grain Equipment in Kindred, North Dakota. “Now we’re seeing bins exceeding 200,000 bushels.”
That extra grain brings more opportunities for mishaps.
“A lot of on-farm storage is now very similar to commercial storage facilities,” says Engelstad. “When grain is stored in larger bins and for longer periods of time, the risks also increase.”
Technology eliminates weather woes
Sporadic weather changes increase the potential for insect infestation and mold growth in stored grain. Maintaining a consistent temperature inside the bin is the best way to avoid these, but can also be challenging.
Automated grain-management systems are one way farmers are maintaining the right conditions to protect stored grain.
“New technologies are helping us make storage more of a tool that can be put to work for farms,” says Todd Sears, president of IntelliFarms, which offers bin-management tools that can be accessed through the internet anywhere in the world. “Cables that once could only measure one thing in the bin can now have components inside of them to measure temperature, moisture, movement and soon more.”
Some bin technology systems allow farmers to check grain condition via computer or mobile phone. Alert systems notify farmers if temperatures or moisture levels go beyond prescribed parameters. This lets them address the problem before spoilage occurs.
Bins and your bottom line
Beyond keeping grain in condition, farmers are recognizing the role bin-management systems can play in helping their bottom line.
For example, having properly dried grain ensures consistent quality while it’s stored, but over-dried grain can cost farmers money. Rehydrating crops like soybeans to peak moisture levels can help farmers deliver grain at optimal test weights, giving them the opportunity to capture maximum value.
“Grain-management systems can offer farmers the tools to help make the management of grain easier, allow for earlier detection of possible problems and, when used correctly, can protect their bottom line,” Engelstad says.
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