Grain should be as clean as possible before loading it into bins in order to reduce trash and fines. “Good-quality, clean, sound grain is much easier to store and market than cracked, broken grain.”

Broken grain and foreign material, or fines, can accumulate in pockets in the bin that restrict airflow and also create a haven for molds and insects. “Broken kernels will mold three to four times faster than whole kernels, and are more susceptible to insect attack.

“If you have a lot of trash in your grain, it can form an extremely dense core in the bin, preventing even airflow, and resulting in pockets of higher moisture, spoilage, grain quality loss, and in general, a lot of headaches.

To help ensure that only high-quality grain goes into storage, Buschermohle says it’s important to:

• Properly adjust combines to manufacturer specifications in order to minimize grain damage during harvest and maximize removal of trash and fines.
• Operate augers at full capacity to reduce wear and grain breakage.
• Don’t mix new grain with old, because this will be a potential source of mold and insect infestation for the new grain.”
• Clean grain before loading into storage bins to reduce foreign material and improve storability.

“Unfortunately,” he says, “cleaned grain may have no greater market value, and fines add weight to marketable grain. Unless fines are causing lower grades or serious storage problems, cash grain farmers may lose money by cleaning grain, unless the cleanings can be sold to a livestock producer or gain elevator.

“Don’t overfill the bin; that hampers airflow and creates problems. We like to see a level top surface on the grain in order to facilitate airflow. You will have to operate a fan about 50% longer to cool an overfilled bin, compared to leveling the grain and filling only to the eave. Peaking the grain also makes it more difficult and dangerous to monitor during storage.”

Know the moisture content of the grain in storage, Buschermohle says. “If you use hand-held moisture meters, take grain samples to an elevator and compare their readings with your meters in order to calibrate them.”

Millions of bushels of dry grain spoil each year because temperatures are not properly controlled in storage, he says.

“As outside air starts to cool, aeration can be a very powerful tool to prevent moisture migration in the grain, which can create conditions favorable to mold and insects, and can cause a crust of 6 in. to 2 ft. or more on top of the grain. In summer, moisture migration is just the reverse, and can cause pockets of spoiled grain on the bottom of the bin.”

Aeration can greatly improve the storability of grain by changing its temperature in response to seasonal temperature changes, Buschermohle says.

Target storage temperatures: September/October, 55-65°; November, 40-50°; December/February, 35-45°; April, 60°.

“Costs of aeration are more than repaid in grain quality,” he says.

Grain temperature should be monitored frequently to know when to turn fans on and off. Electronic controllers are available to help make these decisions.

“Failing to monitor grain conditions throughout the entire storage period is a mistake many producers make,” Buschermohle says. “Regular inspections are essential if mold and insect activity are to be detected early. A small area that starts to heat or otherwise get out of condition can quality get out of control and spread within the bin.”

How often grain needs to be checked will vary with the time of year, initial condition of the grain and how often it’s aerated. Generally, he says, it should be inspected at least once a month during the winter and every two weeks during the spring, summer and fall.

“Grain temperatures should be checked and recorded during each inspection; without temperature records, it’s difficult to tell whether elevated grain temperatures are caused by normally occurring outside temperatures or by heating due to mold activity.”

A deep bin probe should be used to obtain samples at different locations in the bin to determine moisture content, amount of trash and fines and the general condition of the grain. “Check bins frequently for insects; populations can explode within weeks under the right conditions. Put out traps for rodent control.”

Buschermohle suggests doing a “sniff test” every two weeks in the summer and once a month at other times to detect musty or sour odors that can indicate spoilage.

“All these are problems you need to catch before they get out of hand. We’ve seen far too many instances of producers thinking once they get grain in storage their job is over.”

And, he cautions, “Always be aware of dangers related to bins and have safety procedures in place.”

Buschermohle says the first time he saw polybags being used for in-the-field grain storage in Tennessee, “I thought, ‘This is nuts!’

“But a number of farmers have used them effectively as quick fix storage. Just be aware that these systems were developed for colder climates; if you use them, make sure the grain going into them is dry and that you do a good job of aeration.”