Bill Casady Missouri Commercial Agriculture Crop Production Engineer Agricultural Engineering Extension Harvesting, Drying, Handling, and Storing Identity

Bill CasadyMissouri Commercial Agriculture

Crop Production EngineerAgricultural Engineering Extension

Harvesting, Drying,Harvesting, Drying,Handling, and StoringHandling, and Storing

Identity PreservedIdentity PreservedGrains and OilseedsGrains and Oilseeds

Seed Storage and RiskSeed Storage and Risk

Characteristics of Quality SeedCharacteristics of Quality Seed

Factors that Affect Seed QualityFactors that Affect Seed Quality

How to Maximize & Maintain QualityHow to Maximize & Maintain Quality

Grain Quality andGrain Quality andStorage Characteristics of Storage Characteristics of

Grains and Oil SeedsGrains and Oil Seeds

High quality seed stores well High quality seed has high value Seed that stores well has less risk

Grain Quality andGrain Quality andthe paradox of value and riskthe paradox of value and risk

High quality seed stores well High quality seed has high value Seed that stores well has less risk

High Quality Grain has less risk!

Specialty Crops andSpecialty Crops andValue and RiskValue and Risk

Specialty crops can have higher value Specialty crops are held to a high standard

Higher standards increase risk




Specialty crops increase risk!




Specialty crops must have

very high quality!

Quality GrainQuality GrainWhole / undamaged seedsLittle or no foreign materialLittle or no disease or insect activity

A healthy and safe grain mass is dry, cool, and uniform.

Quality GrainQuality Grain

A healthy and safe grain mass is dry, cool, and uniform.

Factors Affecting Grain QualityFactors Affecting Grain Quality Crop Health Harvest Preparation and Timeliness Harvest Moisture Contents Combine Settings Seed Handling Prompt Drying Good Drying Practices Regular and Frequent Inspection.

Crop HealthCrop Health

Development of high quality seed depends on

– adequate soil moisture– proper fertility– moderate temperatures– disease and insect-free fields.

Clean and sanitize all seed handling facilities– bins– augers– pits– bin site

Pre-Harvest Tips for Pre-Harvest Tips for Specialty GrainsSpecialty Grains

Pre-Harvest Tips for Pre-Harvest Tips for Specialty GrainsSpecialty Grains

Perform combine maintenance– Replace worn augers– Eliminate sharp edges

Inspect grain handling equipment– Replace worn augers– Change pulleys – slow augers– Adjust grain spreaders

Harvest DecisionsHarvest Decisions

Harvesting Tips for Harvesting Tips for Specialty GrainsSpecialty Grains

Minimize Breakage and Fines– Use minimum rotor speeds– Adjust rotor speed and clearance as

conditions change– Adjust fan to get a clean sample

Harvesting Tips for Harvesting Tips for Specialty SoybeansSpecialty Soybeans

Harvest only weed-free areas –Volunteer corn–Weeds can cause green stains–Nightshade causes purple stains


Harvest at optimum moisture content at midday–Early morning – too wet–Late afternoon – overdry–Evening – poor separation


Use a well-maintained flexible floating small grain platform–poorly adjusted or poorly

functioning platformsLosses as high as 10-15%Increase soil intake – dirty sampleCause excessive shattering

Harvesting Tips for Harvesting Tips for Specialty SoybeansSpecialty SoybeansA loss of 10% can be significant

– Assume 40 bu soybeans– Assume market price is $6.00

40 x 10% x $6.00 = $24/ac

Inspect knife sections- replace as necessary

Adjust reel speed- 25% faster than ground speed

Adjust reel position- axis about 6” - 12 inches ahead of cutterbar


Keep fields level- drilled soybean is easier to harvest

- avoid wet fields Don’t hurry

- uneven or jagged stubble? …. reduce speed Set the combine by the book

- make adjustments throughout the day !


Drying Tips for Drying Tips for Specialty GrainsSpecialty Grains

Dry in-field as long as possibleUse low temperature drying to

maximize quality– < 110 F High oil, High oleic,

– < 125 F High amylose

– < 140 F High starch, Waxy, Non-GMO

Drying Tips for Drying Tips for Specialty SoybeansSpecialty Soybeans

Field Dry to 13 – 14%Prevent Moisture Migration

– Aerate immediately to cool– Aerate seasonally as needed to

35 – 40 F for winter storage–Warm slightly in the spring

Management Tips for Management Tips for Specialty GrainsSpecialty Grains

Preserve identity– Develop an identity preservation

plan– Update handling equipment for easy

and complete cleanout– Schedule harvest of identity

preserved crops first


Minimize impact and mechanical damage during handling– Use large low-speed augers

– Keep augers at full capacity

– Replace worn augers


Maximize Airflow Potential– Clean grain to reduce fines

– Level grain to uniform depth


Aerate Grain Periodically– Approximately monthly

– Cool grain by 10 – 15 degrees F during each aeration cycle

Soybean Moisture Soybean Moisture CharacteristicsCharacteristics

Soybean contains about 18% oil– water can only be held in the other

82% of mass

– relatively hygroscopic- relatively more susceptible to over-

drying and re-wetting

Soybean Moisture Soybean Moisture CharacteristicsCharacteristics

Soybean moisture changes rapidly in the field after maturity

– 60% - 50% in about 16 days

– 50% - 10% in about 10 days

– Daily ranges …… 16% - 9%

Soybean Equilibrium Soybean Equilibrium Moisture ContentMoisture Content

8.00%

9.00%

10.00%

11.00%

12.00%

13.00%

14.00%

15.00%

16.00%

17.00%

50% 60% 70% 80%

Soybean

Corn

Mo

istu

re

Content

Relative Humidity

Drying PracticesDrying PracticesDry grain and oilseeds immediately

–Storage life is reduced quickly until grain is dried

–Remaining storage life is a function of the percent of storage life already used.

Grain Moisture, %

Temp 15 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30

35 ---- 670 265 112 74 49 37 30 25

45 650 385 150 64 42 28 21 17 14

55 360 215 86 36 24 16 12 10 8

60 270 165 65 28 18 12 9 7 6

65 200 125 49 21 14 9 7 5 4

70 152 93 37 16 10 7 5 4 3

80 84 53 17 9 5 4 3 2 2

Allowable Storage Time for Corn Allowable Storage Time for Corn (days)(days)


Grain Moisture, %

Temp 15 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30

35 ---- 670 265 112 74 49 37 30 25

45 650 385 150 64 42 28 21 17 14

55 360 215 86 36 24 16 12 10 8

60 270 165 65 28 18 12 9 7 6

65 200 125 49 21 14 9 7 5 4

70 152 93 37 16 10 7 5 4 3

80 84 53 17 9 5 4 3 2 2

Allowable Storage TimeAllowable Storage Timefor Soybean (days)for Soybean (days)

Temp 14 16 18 20 22

40 230 140 75 40 12

45 175 95 40 19 9

50 134 65 23 12 7

55 100 40 15 9 4

60 76 27 11 7 3

70 41 14 6 3 2

80 25 8 2 1 0

Dry Grain QuicklyDry Grain Quickly An Example

– Grain is harvested at 24% moisture content and the initial temperature of the grain is 80 F.


Grain Moisture, %

Temp 15 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30

35 ---- 670 265 112 74 49 37 30 25

45 650 385 150 64 42 28 21 17 14

55 360 215 86 36 24 16 12 10 8

60 270 165 65 28 18 12 9 7 6

65 200 125 49 21 14 9 7 5 4

70 152 93 37 16 10 7 5 4 3

80 84 53 17 9 5 4 3 2 2



– Storage life of the grain is 4 days before the grain is spoiled (Dry matter loss = 1%)



– Storage life of the grain is 4 days before the grain is spoiled (Dry matter loss = 1%)

– The grain or any part of the grain that remains at these initial conditions for 2 days has used up 50 % of it’s storage life. (3 days = 75%, etc.)


– 50 % of storage life remaining– If the grain is dried to 16% and cooled to 55 F,

the total expected storage life is 215 days.


Grain Moisture, %

Temp 15 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30

35 ---- 670 265 112 74 49 37 30 25

45 650 385 150 64 42 28 21 17 14

55 360 215 86 36 24 16 12 10 8

60 270 165 65 28 18 12 9 7 6

65 200 125 49 21 14 9 7 5 4

70 152 93 37 16 10 7 5 4 3

80 84 53 17 9 5 4 3 2 2


– 50 % of storage life remaining

– If the grain is dried to 16% and cooled to 55 F, the total expected storage life is 215 days.

– 50% of 215 days is about 107 days

Drying PracticesDrying Practices Dry grain immediately Maximize airflow Dry shallow depths of grain Use heat carefully Do not over-dry grain Aerate stored grain seasonally to minimize

moisture migration.

Inspect Grain OftenInspect Grain Often Inspect grain weekly

– musty odors– warming– crusted grain at the surface

Aerate immediately if a problem is detected Continue aeration until the problem is

resolved.

Respect the Hazards of Respect the Hazards of Spoiled GrainSpoiled Grain

Dust and Mold Spores– damages delicate lung tissues– favors growth of tuberculosis and bronchitis– dust can ignite and explode

Ventilate the work area Wear a dust mask Use the services of a professional fumigator


Watch for crusted grain– know the history of the bin– bridged grain is like a trap– vertical masses of caked grain crush victims

Break up grain with a long wooden pole Work from the top of the bin Avoid overhead power lines.



Respect for Flowing GrainRespect for Flowing Grain An 8-inch auger can move 52 cubic feet/min An average person is only 7 cubic feet You’re covered in 8 seconds

Respect the Hazards of Respect the Hazards of Flowing GrainFlowing Grain

Grain Management SummaryGrain Management Summary Store only high quality grain Clean and sanitize grain handling equipment Harvest in a timely manner !< 28% MC Optimize combine settings Clean the grain - distribute evenly Start drying quickly with lots of air Use heat carefully and dry in shallow layers Inspect and aerate as needed.

ResourcesResources AE – 4728

: Specialty Corn and Soybean Fact Sheets: Department of Ag and consumer economics

MU publications G1290, G1300, G1305, G1310, Safety G1969, Ext Manual 165

MWPS – 13 MWPS – 29

Documents

Bill Casady Missouri Commercial Agriculture Crop Production Engineer Agricultural Engineering Extension Harvesting, Drying, Handling, and Storing Identity