It’s that time of year again. We’ve powered through an excellent crop, and the bins are full. Whether that means it’s time for a much-needed break or time to focus on other things like fertilizer or fall tillage, I would like to remind you to keep a close watch on your grain bins. It may seem too early to be concerned, but because of some factors I will cover, there may be potential issues in some of your bins.
When analyzing your grain condition and storage longevity, one of the more important things to consider is how the grain went into the bin. There are multiple advantages to picking corn early and drying and storing it. The drawback can be we have to take a lot of moisture out of the corn, and sometimes we do not get the corn as dry as needed. Most likely, the problematic areas in these situations will be toward the top or peak of the bin. The moisture will work its way up through the core, as the core acts like a chimney for moisture. Also, the temperature in September was well above normal, meaning that the grain went into the bin at above-normal temperatures. It’s important to cool the grain down and keep an eye on the peak of the bin. We do not want to have any discoloring, sour or musty smells, or in extreme conditions, sprouting corn or beans. If your crop is growing a crop, there is a problem.
Aside from considering how the grain went into storage, we need to assess the quality of the storage structure. Every bin is different. Some bins have excellent aeration while others have none at all. As mentioned, we had temperatures well above normal in September, so grain that went into bins with no or little aeration needs to be monitored closely because the ambient air temperatures were so warm, and the grain had no way to cool off. My suggestion is to core these bins early and keep a close watch on them.
Obviously, we do not want to store grain in a leaky structure. When moisture seeps in, it can create a damaged spot very fast. I trust most of us know our bins and which ones can have a problem. But new leaks can pop up. The snow hasn’t started flying yet, but when we see a traditional Iowa blizzard, it’s good to make sure snow has not blown through the vents or the eaves of the bin. Also, if we see snow melting off the bins on cold and cloudy days, take a peek inside, as this may be a sign that the grain is heating up.
This year we had an excellent window to combine beans. For those that remember the wet harvest of 2018, we had a lot to be thankful for this year. But like every year, we had some rains or days we had to wait for the dews to dry to get the beans truly fit. Beans are more forgiving than corn in terms of averaging moisture, but as some beans were picked in wetter circumstances, do not trust the air alone. I would suggest moving some of those beans a little earlier than normal.
Grain with good test weight dried to proper levels, cool airflow, and movement (coring to remove fines) all help keep grain in condition. If monitored and done properly, we can avoid damage discounts. We all know a lot of work goes into producing a crop. Do not let the value of the crop be diminished so close to the sale. The main things to monitor this time of year are sour or musty smells, discoloration of the crop, and heat.
From the employees at Two Rivers Coop, we want to see our farmers have the best chance of success. So if you have any questions, please do not be afraid to ask.
Nick Hageman
Location Manager-Tracy
Two Rivers Cooperative | www.tworivers.coop
1004 265th St | Tracy, IA 50256
Mobile: 641-780-1937 | Office: 641-949-6411