Modern Grain Bin Moisture Monitoring Solutions
Is Grain Bin Moisture Monitoring Worth The Cost?
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According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, grain production is at an all-time high. This means more competition. U.S. farmers have more stored grain than ever.
It’s not a question of who can produce the highest quality grain. It’s who can store them better. There are several factors to consider when it comes to storage—many of them we can’t control.
What we can control is moisture. With a solid grain bin moisture monitoring system, you can avoid unnecessary losses and improve profits. So, how can controlling grain moisture result in more profits?
Why Is Moisture Important In Grain Storage?
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Think of the Goldilocks principle regarding moisture—not too wet, not too dry. There’s a sweet spot for optimized grain storage. Hitting this sweet spot results in:
Less spoilage and deterioration.
Reduced damage from insects and molds.
Higher return on investments.
Here’s the issue—there’s no universal moisture level for optimal grain management and storage. It depends on the type of grain, the season, the length of storage, and more.
Let’s take two common grain types as an example—corn and soybean. Corn’s optimal moisture level is around 15%. Meanwhile, soybeans are at 13%.
The longer the storage, the lower the moisture levels should be. If you want to store corn or soybeans for more than a year, you’d want a moisture level of 13% and 11% respectively.
Now that we know why we need to control moisture in grain storage, here’s a quick rundown on how to remove moisture from your grain.
Removing Moisture From Grain
There are two main ways of grain drying—natural or artificial. The natural route doesn’t take much—you just need the heat of the sun and a few pieces of equipment.
But, if you want more control over how you remove moisture, you can go for either batch drying or continuous flow drying. Here’s a quick overview of all methods.
Natural Air Drying
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This method is one of the oldest in the book. However, it’s still used extensively in areas with slower agricultural development.
To do this method, you need to distribute grain on cloth and leave it outdoors in direct sunlight. Because you’re only relying on the heat of the sun, drying can take days or weeks.
Here are some of the pros and cons to look out for:
Natural Air Drying Pros:
It’s relatively free.
Only uses basic equipment.
Demands no additional expenditure.
Natural Air Drying Cons:
Grains are at the mercy of the elements.
Risk of exposure to contaminants from birds, rodents, and other factors.
Can be easily stolen.
Batch Drying
One of the most common artificial drying methods is batch drying. On average, this method removes 3% of moisture content for every 8-10 tons of grain per hour. This depends on the grain type, dryer size, and other conditions.
The method is done by putting a batch of grain into a dryer with mesh walls. Then, high volumes of pre-heated air are blasted through the grain, drying them quickly.
After the grain is dried to optimal levels, the heater is shut down with the fan running for a specific period of time for cooling. Finally, the grain is placed back in storage.
Batch Drying Pros:
Requires minimal floor space.
Can be automated.
Can result in very low moisture content.
Batch Drying Cons:
Requires loading and unloading time for every batch needed to dry.
Grain volume fixed by dryer capacity.
Requires skilled operators despite the availability of automation.
Continuous Flow Drying
If you’re looking to scale moisture removal from your grains, continuous flow drying may be your best bet. This method is the most efficient method of drying large quantities of grain.
Continuous flow drying removes 3% moisture content from 10 to 37 tons of grain per hour. Pre-heated air is blown continuously through your grain. Afterward, another fan blows cool air when it’s about to leave the dryer.
Pros of Continuous Flow Drying:
More efficient due to constant airflow and grain movement.
Better for large quantities of grain.
Saves 10 to 30% energy costs.
Cons of Continous Flow Drying:
Larger upfront capital is needed.
Not suitable for smaller grains.
Cannot be used as a standalone machine.
Several other machines are required for this method to work. You’d need to integrate the dryer with tempering bins and conveying equipment for it to be “continuous”.
Scaling using this method also requires quality monitoring solutions to ensure everything goes smoothly—here’s how it works.
How Does Grain Bin Moisture Monitoring Work?
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Think of your grain storage bin as an ecosystem. It’s dynamic and ever-changing. It could be stable today but what about tomorrow or a week from now? The best way to prepare is through monitoring. The two most popular methods are:
Cable Monitoring
There are several types of cables you can choose from to measure factors like temperature, humidity, moisture, and more.
CO2 Detection
Co2 monitoring is predictive as opposed to temperature monitoring which is reactive. This means you can anticipate and make data-driven decisions for optimal grain bin storage.
Practical Grain Drying Tips
The costs of damage due to moisture stack up fast—especially in the long term. To ensure greater ROI, follow these actionable tips for grain drying:
Test Various Spots
Monitoring grain moisture in a bin is best when samples are taken from various depths. Some areas may need more drying than others. This method allows you to make a more accurate moisture profile.
Check And Check Again
Your grain’s temperature can affect the accuracy of monitoring. After the initial testing, allow the meter and grain to hit the same temperature. Especially if the measuring equipment was stored somewhere cooler or warmer.
Test Regularly
Regular testing and monitoring of moisture should be a staple for every grain bin storage. But, you can’t always be on-site to monitor everything.
Luckily, with the help of Wall Grain’s automated monitoring, you don’t have to! You can directly monitor and manage your storage bins remotely, control fans, and automate processes through your smartphone.
Be Wary Of Accuracy
Monitoring won’t be effective if the data isn’t accurate. Keep in mind, the accuracy of most high-end equipment is accurate within 0.5-1% or better.
But, there are different types of meters to keep in mind. Two of the most popular include:
Resistance-type meters.
Capacitance-type meters.
Key Takeaways
Grain bin moisture monitoring is essential if we want to increase ROI and reduce damage caused by shrinkage, pests, and other factors.
To ensure our grain has the most optimal moisture level, consider the following:
You can dry grain naturally or artificially.
Natural methods are cheaper but are prone to damage from the elements.
Batch drying is perfect for small to medium volumes of grain.
Continuous flow drying is best for large volumes and scaling.
Always monitor and test moisture levels to ensure quality grain stock.
If you want the best and most intuitive monitoring solution for your grain storage, look no further than Wall Grain! Contact our grain management advisers today!