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 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 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 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.
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
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
Harvesting Tips for Harvesting Tips for Specialty SoybeansSpecialty Soybeans
Harvest at optimum moisture content at midday–Early morning – too wet–Late afternoon – overdry–Evening – poor separation
Harvesting Tips for Harvesting Tips for Specialty SoybeansSpecialty Soybeans
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
Harvesting Tips for Harvesting Tips for Specialty SoybeansSpecialty Soybeans
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 !
Harvesting Tips for Harvesting Tips for Specialty SoybeansSpecialty Soybeans
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
Management Tips for Management Tips for Specialty GrainsSpecialty Grains
Minimize impact and mechanical damage during handling– Use large low-speed augers
– Keep augers at full capacity
– Replace worn augers
Management Tips for Management Tips for Specialty GrainsSpecialty Grains
Maximize Airflow Potential– Clean grain to reduce fines
– Level grain to uniform depth
Management Tips for Management Tips for Specialty GrainsSpecialty Grains
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)
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.
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
Dry Grain QuicklyDry Grain Quickly An Example
– Grain is harvested at 24% moisture content and the initial temperature of the grain is 80 F.
– Storage life of the grain is 4 days before the grain is spoiled (Dry matter loss = 1%)
Dry Grain QuicklyDry Grain Quickly An Example
– Grain is harvested at 24% moisture content and the initial temperature of the grain is 80 F.
– 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.)
Dry Grain QuicklyDry Grain Quickly An Example
– 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.
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
Dry Grain QuicklyDry Grain Quickly An Example
– 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
Respect the Hazards of Respect the Hazards of Spoiled GrainSpoiled Grain
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
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.