Grain Aeration: Valuable Tool for Agricultural Industry

1. Serving the Agricultural Industry Since 1954 Relevance of Grain Aeration Valuable Grain Management Tool PRESENTED BY: Vikas Shrivastava Asia Sales Manager SCAFCO Grain Systems Co., USA Email – VIKASS@SCAFCO.COM

2. Good Storage Practice • 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. www.SCAFCO.com

3. 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.

4. Grain Enemies • Insects • Mold and Fungi • Moisture • Heat

5. Why Aerate Grain? • To condition the dry grain • Conditioned grain • Less mold/fungi growth • Less insect activity • Managed moisture • Managed heat • Improves chances of successful long term storage

6. 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

7. Why Aerate Grain? Because • Aeration equalizes moisture • Aeration equalizes temperature • Control insect environment

8. Moisture - Temperature - Storage Capability ºC ºF 40 30 Temperature 20 10 Moisture

9. Storage Air Temperature (F) (C) Moisture Content 13% 15% 20% 25% 30% 80.6 ° 75.2 ° 69.8 ° 64.4 ° 60.8 ° 55.4 ° 50.0 ° 44.6 ° 39.2 ° 35.6 ° 27 ° 24 ° 21 ° 18 ° 16 ° 13 ° 10 ° 7 ° 4 ° 2 ° 450 780 1410 2520 4500 87 116 155 207 250 337 466 725 906 1140 12.1 16.1 21.5 27.0 35.0 48.0 75.0 94.0 118.0 4.3 5.8 7.8 9.6 12.5 14.0 27.0 34.0 42.0 2.6 3.5 4.6 5.8 7.5 10.0 16.0 20.0 25.0 Safe Storage Period (Days)

10. Storage moisture Vs Storage Period

11. Warm Weather Effects • Moisture migration Warm Air Warm Air Cold Air Settles Warm Air Cold Grain Cold Grain Warm Air Warm Grain Warm Grain Spring & Summer

12. Cool Weather Effects Moisture migration Cool Air Cool Air Warm Grain Warm Grain Cold Grain Cold Air Settles Cold Grain Warm Air Rises Fall & Winter

13. Why Aerate Grain? • To equalize moisture migration

14. Aeration Problem • Center “fines” • Fines material in grain gather in the center of the silo

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

16. Aeration Problem • Dirty aeration tunnels • Plugged floor perforations • Obstructed roof vents

17. Aeration Solution • Clean silo tunnels, ducts, floors, and roof vents before filling silo

18. Aeration Problem • Over filling silo

19. Aeration Solution • Don’t overfill the silo!

20. Aeration Problem • Spoiled grain on silo wall • Keep grain temperature near average ambient air temperature to avoid condensation on walls

21. 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!

22. 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

23. 5400 East Broadway Avenue P.O. Box 11215 Spokane, Washington 99211-1215, USA Toll Free +1.800.224.0676 Telephone +1.509.535.1571 Fax: +1.509.535.9130 Email: mail@SCAFCO.com Web: www.SCAFCO.com