Higher Temps Put Stored Grain At Risk

Apr 21, 2014

Warmer weather is putting stored grain and oilseeds at risk of spoilage.

Due to last year's bumper crop and the resulting transportation challenges, there's much more of last year's crop still in storage on farms than normal for this time of year.

"There's a lot of canola still sitting in bins and some might be destined to stay there for summer, so you definitely want to be taking some precautionary measures when it starts to warm up outside," explains Angela Brackenreed, agronomy specialist with the Canola Council of Canada.

A large difference between the temperature of the canola in a bin and the air temperature outside will lead to moisture accumulation, she notes.

"You actually want to warm up that canola. Turn the fans on when you see about a 10 degree differential from the outside to the inside," says Brackenreed. "The first spot that you're likely going to see that accumulation is in the bottom central core."

Canola that was put into temporary grain bag storage last fall should be dealt with in the very near future, she notes.

"Bags are definitely not ideal for long term storage. Any canola in there now should be moved as soon as possible into a bin," says Brackenreed.

Source: SteinbachOnline

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.