Relevance of Grain Aeration

Valuable Grain Management Tool

• Storage of clean grain is important as clean grain helps in

• Preventing mold and insects.• Improving air distribution through the stored mass and

also during Drying, Aeration or Cooling.

• Ensure that Grain is at the recommended moisture level for storage.

• Before storing, the storage facility should be cleaned thoroughly.

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Good Storage Practice

Grain Aeration Basics

Why Aerate Grain

Aeration is the practice of moving air through stored grain to reduce the rate of grain deterioration and prevent storage losses. Spoilage in stored grain is caused by mold growth and insect activity, which is related to the moisture content and temperature of the stored grain. Aeration greatly improves the "storability" of grain by maintaining a cool, uniform temperature throughout the storage to reduce mold development and insect activity and to prevent moisture migration.

Grain Enemies

• Insects• Mold and Fungi• Moisture• Heat

Why Aerate Grain?

• To condition the dry grain• Conditioned grain

Less mold/fungi growthLess insect activityManaged moistureManaged heat

• Improves chances of successful long term storage

Why Aerate Grain?

• Because grain is alive– If planted, it will grow– It lives & breathes– It gives up moisture– It absorbs moisture– It will not be harmed by cold temperatures, but it

can be harmed by too much heat

Why Aerate Grain?

Because •Aeration equalizes moisture

•Aeration equalizes temperature

•Control insect environment

Moisture - Temperature - Storage Capability

40

30

20

10

Moisture

Tem

per

atu

re

ºC ºF

Moisture Content

13% 15% 20% 25% 30%

Storage AirTemperature(F) (C)

80.6 °75.2 °69.8 °64.4 °60.8 °55.4 °50.0 °44.6 °39.2 °35.6 °

450

780

1410

2520

4500

871161552072503374667259061140

12.116.121.527.035.048.075.094.0118.0

4.35.87.89.612.514.027.034.042.0

2.63.54.65.87.510.016.020.025.0

27 °24 °21 °18 °16 °13 °10 ° 7 ° 4 ° 2 °

Safe Storage Period (Days)

Shelled corn Soybeans Wheat and barley Sunflowers

Short term 15.5% 13% 14% 11%

One year 14 12 13 10

Long term 13 11 13 9

Storage moisture Vs Storage Period

Warm Weather Effects

Warm Air Warm Air

ColdGrain

ColdGrainW

arm

Air

War

m A

ir

War

m G

rain

War

m G

rain

Col

d A

ir S

ettle

s

Spring & Summer

• Moisture migration

Cool Weather Effects

Cool Air

WarmGrain

WarmGrain

Col

d A

ir S

ettle

sC

old

Gra

in

Col

d G

rain

War

m A

ir R

ises

Fall & Winter

Cool Air

Moisture migration

Why Aerate Grain?

• To equalize moisture migration

Aeration Problem

• Center “fines”• Fines material in

grain gather in the center of the silo

Aeration Solution

• During Silo Filling draw out some grain from silo couple of times center to make cone in grain

Aeration Problem

• Dirty aeration tunnels

• Plugged floor perforations

• Obstructed roof vents

Aeration Solution

• Clean silo tunnels, ducts, floors, and roof vents before filling silo

Aeration Problem

• Over filling silo

Aeration Solution

• Don’t overfill the silo!

Aeration Problem

• Spoiled grain on silo wall

• Keep grain temperature near average ambient air temperature to avoid condensation on walls

When to Aerate

• When grain and outside air temperature not more than 90 C difference

• Before 7 AM or After 7 PM.• Aerate to maintain uniform temperature in

the silo• When you start - you must finish!

Successful Grain Storage

• Check grain temperatures weekly

• Aerate grain to remove possible “Hot” spots

• Aerate grain to maintain uniform temperature in the silo

• Aerate grain to prevent insects infestations

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Spokane, Washington 99211-1215, USAToll Free +1.800.224.0676

Telephone +1.509.535.1571Fax: +1.509.535.9130

Email: mail@SCAFCO.comWeb: www.SCAFCO.com