How to store grain to reduce post-harvest losses and preserve quality

Learn how to store grain successfully. We need to focus on three main factors: moisture content, grain temperature humidity and storage period. The quality and storage environment of the grain will also be critical.

In conclusion, we need to maintain the quality of the grain and minimize damage to the grain.

Based on this idea, grain quality analysis needs to be carried out through samples at the grain receiving point (before unloading).

Clean grains before storing. The growers are very experienced in this area, and they know what kind of impurities are contained in the grain. Based on this information, we will adjust the use of magnetic separators, dust removal and other equipment. During the flow of grain along the cleaning stage, a suction system should be installed as well as appropriate handling (impurities may also be of value).

Cleaning is followed by drying, which reduces the moisture content of the grain to a level where it is safe to store the grain (freshly harvested grain often has a high moisture content). Insects and molds can be extremely damaging to grain quality if the temperature and temperature of the grain are not properly controlled.

Placing grain in the field to dry and using sun-drying systems, which lack control over grain drying, should be avoided. A flow dryer should be chosen, which has a higher drying rate (3% to 5% per hour), which allows the management of large quantities of wet grain.

Buffer silos can be used when the drying capacity is lower than the cleaning capacity (this is a very common situation): the grain will be stored in the buffer silo waiting to dry. In buffer silos, the grain is still wet, that’s why we need to design proper ventilation openings and ventilation systems, exhaust fans and top cone design for these steel silos. After drying, the grain can cool and achieve uniformity in moisture content and temperature.

Only now we can talk about the storage phase itself, and even if we know the traditional methods (sacks stacked in warehouses, concrete silos…), our proposal is obviously a galvanized steel silo system. Check out the advantages of steel silos vs concrete silos here: Advantages of steel silos vs concrete silos for grain storage

At this point, the grain is not only clean and dry, we just need to maintain the highest quality throughout storage. How do we achieve this goal?

A custom ventilation system is a must: ventilation channels and grilles, roof vents, exhaust and centrifugal fans, even a cooling system. A temperature monitoring system and indicators such as EMC (Equilibrium Moisture Content) will help in controlling temperature and moisture content, thereby controlling mold and insect development. These are only subject to this control when stored in silos.