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Avoid Aerating Grain During Warm WeatherBill Wilcke, Minnesota Extension EngineerAeration, our best weapon for keeping dry stored grain in condition during cool months, should be avoided during warm weather. During the process of grain aeration, the temperature of stored grain is gradually brought to the temperature of the air moving through the grain. If grain is aerated when the outdoor temperature is less than about 50°F, the grain temperature stays low enough that molds and insects, the organisms that are responsible for grain spoilage, don’t grow very fast. But if grain is aerated when the outdoor temperature is 60°F or higher, the grain is warmed to a temperature where mold and insect growth and reproduction is very rapid. So how do you manage stored grain during warm weather? The first thing to do is make sure that any grain that will be stored during warm weather is dry, clean, uniformly cool, and free of insect and mold problems. Grain that is damp, contains large amounts of fines and foreign material, has hot spots, or has obvious mold or insect problems is not a good candidate for summer storage. Correct the problems, feed, or sell the grain before the weather gets much warmer. After summer weather arrives, check the grain frequently—maybe as often as every week or two. If grain storage problems develop, and there are times of the day when the temperature is less than 60°F, try aerating the grain by using a fan that is controlled so that it only operates when the outdoor temperature is less than 60°F. You could control the fan by switching it on and off manually, by using a simple thermostat, or by using a sophisticated microprocessor-based controller. If there isn’t enough weather cooler than 60°F available for aerating the grain and the grain starts to heat due to mold and insect activity, raise the temperature settings for fan operation and make immediate plans to move the grain out of storage. |
The information given in this publication is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement is implied.
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