1. Grain Storage Webinar Handling the 2014 ‘Bumper’ Crop
MU Extension Engineering Specialists
Jim Crawford – NRE, Northwest Region
Charles Ellis – NRE, East Central Region
Kent Shannon – NRE, Northeast Region
Frank Wideman – NRE, Southeast Region
Joe Zulovich – Ag Engr, Commercial Ag
MU Extension Ag Economist – Ray Massey
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Grain Storage Webinar – Sept 8, 2014

2. CHARLES ELLIS NATURAL RESOURCE ENGINEER
THE 2014 GROWING SEASON
CHARLES ELLIS
NATURAL RESOURCE ENGINEER
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3. Grain Storage Webinar – Sept 8, 2014
The Summer of 2014
What’s it similar to
2004
Planting season
Much of the corn crop planted in a timely manner
Some areas with delays in soybean planting into late June
Planting of double crop beans delayed
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4. Grain Storage Webinar – Sept 8, 2014
The Summer of 2014
Cooler than normal temperatures with timely rains.
Parts of the state had 10+ inches of rain in August.
September 1, 2-6 inches of rain in east Central Missouri.
Soils are getting saturated.
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5. Grain Storage Webinar – Sept 8, 2014
2014 Corn Development
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6. Grain Storage Webinar – Sept 8, 2014
2014 Corn Development
AgClimate4U.org
Corn Growing Degree Day Tool
County Level Tool
Example
Audrain County Missouri
113 RM corn planted April 19
Similar development to 2004
Approximately one week later development than the average.
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7. Harvesting The Corn Crop
Example
8 row combine
Harvesting at 4 mph
80% efficiency
8 hrs./day
7.5 ac./hr.
135 bu./ac. average
1012 bu./hr.
8096 bu./day
150 bu./ac. average
1125 bu./hr.
9000 bu./day
170 bu./ac. average
1275 bu./hr.
10200 bu./day
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8. Harvesting the Corn Crop
Potentially an additional 2000 bu./day
Haul
Dry
Store
With 1000 acres of corn potentially additional bushels.
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9. What Will Delay/Slow Harvest
Delayed Crop Maturity
Additional Bushels to Haul
Dryer Capacity
Elevator Constraints in Volume and Drying
High Dew Point Temperatures May Shorten Harvest Hours.
Are We Approaching Muddy Conditions?
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10. Getting the Corn Harvested
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11. FOR FURTHER INFO CONTACT
Charles Ellis
NATURAL RESOURCE ENGINEER
LINCOLN COUNTY EXTENSION CENTER PH
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12. Stage of harvest maturity & implications
Frank Wideman
REGIONAL NATURAL RESOURCE ENGINEER
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13. Why worry about harvest timing?
Weather
Rain
Mud
Wind
Equipment issues
Acres per day
Limited window of opportunity
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14. Grain Storage Webinar – Sept 8, 2014
Corn moisture content
Black layer
30-35% moisture content
Finished adding dry matter to grain
Too wet to harvest?
Traditional harvest starts at 25% moisture
Requires heated drying and lots of air
Natural air drying at 18-20% moisture
Careful management to avoid spoilage
15% for over winter storage
Minimal losses with in field storage
Some dry matter loss each time rewetting
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15. Soybean moisture content
Moisture at harvest less forgiving than corn
Soybean are very hydroscopic
Moistures above 18% harvest cause damage
Bean bruising and crushing
Ideal harvest at 13-15% moisture
10-13%
Shattering
Lodging
Lower market weights
Below 10% the beans are brittle
Over winter storage at 13%
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16. FOR FURTHER INFO CONTACT
Frank Wideman
NATURAL RESOURCE ENGINEER
PERRY COUNTY EXTENSION CENTER PH
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17. CHARLES ELLIS NATURAL RESOURCE ENGINEER
GRAIN DRYING BASICS
CHARLES ELLIS
NATURAL RESOURCE ENGINEER
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18. What Happens When Grain Dries?
Moisture absorbing capacity of the air moving through the grain is used to evaporate moisture from the grain resulting in:
Increased water in the air as vapor, higher RH.
Lower air temperatures leaving the grain.
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19. Grain Storage Webinar – Sept 8, 2014
15.5% Corn Is:
47.3 lbs. of dry matter.
8.7 lbs. of water
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20. Grain Storage Webinar – Sept 8, 2014
20% Corn Is:
47.32 lbs. of dry matter.
11.83 lbs. of water.
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21. Psychrometrics/Drying Principles
85 Degrees
54% R. H.
75 Degrees
75% R. H.
Heat
Equilibrium Corn
Moisture 15.2%
Equilibrium Corn
Moisture 11.4%
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22. Equilibrium Moisture of Corn
Air Temp
R. H.
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80% 40
9.3
11.0
12.7
14.5
16.4
18.7 50
8.8
10.5
12.2
13.9
15.7
Nov.
17.9 60
8.5
10.1
11.7
13.3
15.1
Oct.
17.2 70
8.1
9.7
11.2
12.8
Sept
16.6 80
7.8
10.8
12.4
14.0
16.0 90
7.6
9.0
12.0
13.6
15.5
100
7.3
8.7
11.6
13.2
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23. Dry Grain in Equilibrium
Layered In-Bin Drying
Cooler Moist Air
Wet Grain
Drying Zone
Air Flow
Dry Grain in Equilibrium
Dry, Warm Air
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24. Proper Storage Moisture
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25. Grain Storage Webinar – Sept 8, 2014
Storage Time for Corn
Grain Temp
15%
16%
18%
20% 35
670
265
112 40
870
500
200 85 45
650
385
150 64 50
490
290
115 48 55
360
215 86 36 60
270
165 65 28
125 49 21 70
152 93 37 16 75 12 80 84 53 17 9
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26. Grain Storage Webinar – Sept 8, 2014
Storage Time for Beans
Grain Temp
14%
16%
18% 40
230
140 75 45
175 95 50
134 65 23 55
100 15 60 76 27 11 19 9 70 41 14 6 32 4 80 25 8 2
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27. Temp. Data for Mid Missouri
Month
Ave. Max
Ave. Min
Ave.
Ave. R. H.
Jan. 41 26 33 72
Feb. 45 29 37 70
March 54 36 66
April 47 57 65
May 75
June 85 67 76
July 90 81 61
Aug. 88 79
Sept. 80 62 71 68
Oct. 52
Nov. 38 46
Dec. 44
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28. FOR FURTHER INFO CONTACT
Charles Ellis
NATURAL RESOURCE ENGINEER
LINCOLN COUNTY EXTENSION CENTER PH
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29. Natural Air Drying How Long Will It Take / Will it Work?
Kent Shannon
Natural Resource Engineer
University of Missouri Extension
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30. Moisture Content vs. Temperature Dictates Safe Storage Time
Source: MWPS Managing Dry Grain in Storage, 2004
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31. Temp. Data for Mid Missouri
Month
Ave. Max
Ave. Min
Ave.
Ave. R. H.
Jan. 41 26 33 72
Feb. 45 29 37 70
March 54 36 66
April 47 57 65
May 75
June 85 67 76
July 90 81 61
Aug. 88 79
Sept. 80 62 71 68
Oct. 52
Nov. 38 46
Dec. 44
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32. Recommended Airflow for Drying Corn
Min. Airflow per bu. CFM/Bu.
Sept 1
Sept. 15
Oct. 1
Oct. 15
Nov. 1 1
19%
19.5%
20%
21%
22%
1.25
20.5%
21.5%
22.5%
1.5
23.5% 2
23%
24.5% 3
25.5%
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33. Grain Storage Webinar – Sept 8, 2014
Airflow Through Grain
When air is forced through grain, it encounters resistance, which is pressure drop.
Pressure Drop is the result of friction in the grain mass.
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34. Airflow Through Grain Cont.
Pressure Drop is dependent on:
properties of the drying air
airflow rate
characteristics of the grain
amount of void space
broken kernels and fines
grain depth
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35. Selecting Fans and Fan Curves
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36. Influence of Grain Type on Airflow
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37. Influence of Bin Diameter on Airflow
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38. Grain Storage Webinar – Sept 8, 2014
Drying Strategies
Dry to 16 percent moisture in fall finish drying to 13 percent moisture in spring
Dry to 13 percent moisture in fall
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39. Drying Strategies - Equipment
27 foot drying bin
14 foot maximum fill
Capacity 6413 bushels
7.5 horsepower fan
Airflow cfm/bu or 9397 total cfm
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40. Grain Storage Webinar – Sept 8, 2014
Airflow and Pressure with Different Quantities of Grain in a Bin – 27 ft bin with 7.5 hp axial flow fan
Depth Airflow Airflow S.P.
(ft) Bushels (cfm) (cfm/bu) (in. H2O) *
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41. Drying Strategies – Natural Air For September Harvest – 24 % M.C.
Airflow Rate (cfm/bushels)
0.25
0.5
0.75 1
1.5 2
FMC
Days Required for Drying 23
8.9
4.5
3.0
2.2
1.5
1.1 22
17.9
6.0 21
26.8
13.4
6.7
3.3 20
35.7
11.9 19
44.7
22.3
14.9
11.2
7.4
5.6 18
53.6 17
62.5
31.3
20.8
15.6
10.4
7.8 16
71.5
23.8 15
80.4
40.2
20.1
10.0 14
89.3
29.8
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42. Moisture Content vs. Temperature Dictates Safe Storage Time
Source: MWPS Managing Dry Grain in Storage, 2004
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43. Drying Strategies – Natural Air For September Harvest – 20 % M.C.
Airflow Rate (cfm/bushels)
0.25
0.5
0.75 1
1.5 2
FMC
Days Required for Drying 19
16.8
8.4
5.6
4.2
2.8
2.1 18
33.6
11.2 17
50.4
25.2
12.6
6.3 16
67.2
22.4 15
83.9
42.0
28.0
21.0
14.0
10.5 14
100.7 13
117.5
58.8
39.2
29.4
19.6
14.7 12
134.3
44.8 11
151.1
75.5
37.8
18.9 10
167.9
56.0
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44. Drying Strategies - Equipment
30 foot drying bin
27 foot maximum fill
Capacity bushels
2 x 15 horsepower centrifugal fans in parallel
Airflow cfm/bu or total cfm
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45. Grain Storage Webinar – Sept 8, 2014
Airflow and Pressure with Different Quantities of Grain in a Bin – 30 foot bin with 2 SUKUP 3500 rpm Centrif. 15 hp in Parallel
Depth Airflow Airflow S.P.
(ft) Bushels (cfm) (cfm/bu) (in. H2O) *
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46. Drying Strategies - Equipment
42 foot drying bin
27 foot maximum fill
Capacity bushels
2 x 40 horsepower centrifugal fans in parallel
Airflow – 1.01 cfm/bu or total cfm
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47. Grain Storage Webinar – Sept 8, 2014
Airflow and Pressure with Different Quantities of Grain in a Bin – 42 foot bin with 2 SUKUP 3500 rpm Centrif. 40 hp in Parallel
Depth Airflow Airflow S.P.
(ft) Bushels (cfm) (cfm/bu) (in. H2O) *
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48. Natural Air Drying How Long Will It Take / Will it Work?
Has potential with smaller bins or larger bins with shallower depths
Need to know the specs of the fan and its potential performance – This will be key
Most larger bins have fans sized for aeration (0.3 cfm per bushel)
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49. FOR FURTHER INFO CONTACT
Kent Shannon
NATURAL RESOURCE ENGINEER
BOONE COUNTY EXTENSION CENTER PH
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50. ECONOMICS OF GRAIN DRYING
RAY MASSEY
CROP ECONOMIST
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51. Missouri Grain Storage Capacity
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52. Relevant Costs of Drying
If you have on-farm drying equipment,
The cost of the equipment is a sunk cost. The ownership costs should not affect your decision of how to use the dryer this year.
The relevant costs are fuel and additional handling losses such as increased broken grains.
If you do not have on-farm drying,
Commercial facilities may be available.
Commercial costs of drying can be very high.
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53. Grain Storage Webinar – Sept 8, 2014
Grain Drying Economic Analysis Tool crops.missouri.edu/machinery/GrainDryingAid.xlsx
Factors that affect the cost of drying
Grain moisture at harvest
Target moisture level for storage/marketing
Cost of fuel for drying
Commercial Drying Charges
Shrinkage
Discount (drying charge) for wet grain
Value of grain affects the relative cost of drying but not the actual cost of drying
Cost per bushel is the same but the percent of value is different
Percent of value is greater for cheaper grain.
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54. Grain Storage Webinar – Sept 8, 2014
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55. Grain Storage Webinar – Sept 8, 2014
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56. FOR FURTHER INFO CONTACT
Ray Massey
CROP ECONOMIST
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI PH
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57. JOE ZULOVICH EXTENSION AGRICULTURAL ENGINEER
GRAIN STORAGE OPTIONS
JOE ZULOVICH
EXTENSION AGRICULTURAL ENGINEER
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58. Grain Storage Duration
Long Term Storage Characteristics
Temporary Storage Characteristics
Grain must be dry when stored – aeration can cool
Aeration capability of at least 0.1 cfm/bu exists – key to maintain grain quality for long storage period
Structural options include circular bins; flat storage buildings; well maintained, covered piles. All have aeration systems.
Grain must be dry and cool when stored
No aeration available for grain mass – often limits storage time to two months
Structural options include any grain storage vessel with no aeration capability.
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59. Permanent/Long Term Storage
Circular bins with aeration/drying floors
Circular bins with aeration capability using aeration ducts strategically placed within floor
Flat storage buildings with aeration ducts strategically placed within floor or as pipes placed on top of floor at bottom of grain mass
Covered outside piles with aeration incorporated (up to 6 months)
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60. Temporary/Short Term Storage
Covered outside piles without aeration
Grain storage bags
Flat storage buildings without aeration (either “permanent” flat storage or converted flat storage within a building)
Any other “vessel” used to store grain without an aeration system
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61. Characteristics needed to construct a ‘Temporary Grain Storage Pile’
Determine/select capacity of storage as well as dimensions (area and depth at wall)
Site drainage – Well drained, relatively flat site where ALL surface water drains away from site
Base – At least a 4-6” thick, well drained granular base (or concrete pad) and/or use 6-mil plastic to create vapor barrier to minimize moisture movement from soil to grain
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62. Characteristics needed to construct a ‘Temporary Grain Storage Pile’
If walls are desired, place temporary walls for shape and size of storage desired. Walls can be constructed using:
Large concrete blocks (2’ by 2’ by 4’ to 8’ long) with maximum height of 3 blocks (6’ high)
Concrete road barriers
Commercially available temporary wall barriers
After filling, cover with tarp(s) to shed rain water off pile.
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63. Grain Storage Webinar – Sept 8, 2014
Aerating Grain Piles?
Installing/providing pile aeration
will allow for longer storage period.
helps hold tarp(s) on grain pile.
Pile aeration system options
Commercially available wall barrier systems often incorporate fans and wall inlets for aeration
Pipe duct aeration system can be designed and installed but challenges grain removal operation
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64. FOR FURTHER INFO CONTACT
Joe Zulovich
EXTENSION AGRICULTURAL ENGINEER
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI PH
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65. ESTIMATING THE CAPACITY OF TEMPORARY STORAGE PILES
JIM CRAWFORD
NATURAL RESOURCE ENGINEER
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66. Basic Guidelines for Temporary Grain Piles
Only store DRY grain
Corn ≤15.5%
Soybeans ≤13%
Do not try to over fill the pile
Wet grain will form steeper cones when filled
As it dries, grain will flow down cone
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67. Spreadsheet Calculating Pile Size
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68. Rectangular Grain Piles
Width of
Storage
Angle of Repose for grain
Length of Storage
Depth of stored grain at wall
Wall can be taller that depth of grain stored
Width of Storage Pile
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69. Grain Storage Webinar – Sept 8, 2014
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70. Grain Storage Webinar – Sept 8, 2014
Circular Grain Piles
Diameter of Pile
Angle of Repose for grain
Depth of stored grain at wall
Wall can be taller that depth of grain stored
Diameter of Storage Pile
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71. Grain Storage Webinar – Sept 8, 2014
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72. Grain Storage Webinar – Sept 8, 2014
Oval Grain Piles
Angle of Repose for grain
Length of straight walls between
circular ends of storage
Depth of stored grain at wall
Wall can be taller that depth of grain stored
Width of Storage Pile
is same as diameter of half circles forming ends of storage
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73. Grain Storage Webinar – Sept 8, 2014
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74. FOR FURTHER INFO CONTACT
Jim Crawford
NATURAL RESOURCE ENGINEER
ATCHISON COUNTY EXTENSION CENTER PH
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75. Questions and Discussion
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76. Grain Storage Webinar – Sept 8, 2014
Website Resource
Title - Grain storage and drying issues
Short URL is
Page is at
Page will be listed in the “In demand” section on MU Extension homepage
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