Ask the Doctor: Temperature Awareness is Key for Decision Making
Managing grain temperature from spring through summer requires gradual adjustments to match rising outdoor conditions while avoiding repeated warming and cooling. Timing hydration and drying of grain is also key for planning when to sell or process grain rather than hold in long-term storage.
What temperature is a good target for long-term storage from spring through summer?
A good target temperature will vary from location to location based on the local weather. A good rule of thumb is to keep the grain temperature 10-15°F less than the average bi-weekly ambient temperature through aeration. For example, if the bi-weekly average ambient temperature is 60°F in April, keep grain temperatures between 45 and 50°F. In the summer, if the average bi-weekly ambient temperature is 80°F, keep the grain temperatures between 65 and 70°F.
Also, keep in mind that grains should not be continually warmed and cooled. Even if a low temperature is expected for a few days before rising again, do not cool the grain only to warm it back up. Between spring and summer, grains should only be gradually warmed.
For the Midwest region, an example temperature range could be:
*This is just an example. Based on the location specific weather, it may vary.
How do customers balance automation vs. manual fan runtime during seasonal transitions when working with frozen or non-frozen grain?
Currently, AGI BinManager® does not have the ability to warm grain, so manual intervention may be needed at time for managing both frozen and non-frozen grain. Regarding frozen grain management, it needs to be warmed at the appropriate time. For example, if the grain temperature is 25°F, the warming process needs to start when the ambient temperature is 30°F. It cannot be delayed until the temperature is 50°F or condensation issues will occur. Spring thaw also needs to have truly set in, or the grain may refreeze. For non-frozen grain, the warming process can be a bit more flexible, but the idea is the same: a gradual process of raising the grains’ temperature.
How do customers balance hydration while keeping temperatures low for long term storage?
It can be hard to balance hydration with keeping temperatures low. If the grain’s temperature is high, the moisture absorption rate will be high. However, the length of time the grain can be safely stored will decrease at elevated temperatures. When the grain absorbs moisture from the air, the air releases the moisture and warms up, and vice-versa. When the grain releases moisture to the air (drying), the air cools. If hydrated grain is cooled, it will release moisture. Therefore, there is no long-term storage solution for storing hydrated grain. It needs to be sold or processed after hydration within a few weeks.
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