The best way to preserve harvested grains stored in a storage bin

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To store the harvested grains stored in a storage bin, certain measures and grain bin equipment should be used.

Many farmers use a bulk grain storage bin to store harvested grains until they can be delivered to market or used as feed. However, these bins often become humid and musty over time. This problem is worsened if the bin is not well-maintained and moisture-proof. The best way to avoid this problem is to follow a regular preventative maintenance plan for the bin which will help keep the environment inside the grain bin dry and use the grain bin equipment to keep a check on the environment inside the storage bin.

Aeration of grains:

Before the grain is stored, it should be aerated to cool it down 1-2 F. This also helps remove extra moisture from the grains by allowing them to breathe. The benefit of pre-aeration is that less heat will be generated throughout the storage period due to respiration. Pre-aeration can last anywhere between 24 hours for tall piles to 8-10 hours for smaller piles. Many farmers choose to aerate grain in the field before they close it into the bin, which reduces any chances of oxygen deprivation during storage.

Aeration can be achieved with forced airflow methods or natural convection processes related to wind, temperature, and humidity differences between layers inside the bulk bin. Forced airflow options include natural draft grain towers, flow ventilation fans and pneumatic transport systems that move air from the exterior of the bin to the interior of bins or from one bin to another.

Preventing moisture from accumulating:

Moisture is a common problem in grain storage for several reasons. First, humidity can be added to a grain pile from external sources such as precipitation, irrigation systems, storage bins, etc. In addition, moisture can be added by respiration from the stored grains themselves. To avoid this problem, aeration can help remove extra moisture from the stored grains.

In humid weather conditions or in overly moist stored grain piles, it is important to take steps to ensure there is no condensation or moisture build-up in the bin. Condensation can be controlled by ventilation and sufficient aeration. Fresh air should be introduced from outside of the bulk storage bin while simultaneously exhausting moist, warm air out of the bin. Using Grain Temp Guard Probes Alarm (HT) can help in detecting the moisture content of the stored grains.

Monitoring grain temperatures:

To prevent heat accumulation at any time during the storage process, temperatures in the bulk bin should be monitored throughout the year. If there is no ventilation in place for removing excess heat and moisture, grains can potentially spoil or become "heat stressed". Using Grain Temp Guard Probes Alarm (DT) can help in detecting and tacking the moisture level of the stored grains. This can be attached to an alarm system to trigger the alarm and alert the grower. 

In conclusion, the best way to preserve harvested grain when stored in a bin is to regularly perform aeration on the stored grain pile. Aeration helps to remove excess moisture, which can prevent spoilage. In addition, it is important to monitor grain temperatures throughout the year using grain bin equipment and ensure there is no condensation in the bin by controlling heat retention through ventilation processes.

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