John Gnadke - 2009 Corn Harvest May Present Challenges with Drying and Storing Grain

John Gnadke, a grain drying and storage consultant with more than 40 years of experience, provides tips for the 2009 harvest season.

Gnadke says estimates are that corn will be between two to three weeks behind. "Looking at Growing Degree Units, we're going to be somewhere between 200 and 250 GDUs behind, which means growers will harvest wetter grain and in cooler temperatures. For these reasons, 2009 will present growers with challenges," he says.

Outlook for 2009 Harvest
Harvest Outlook (MP3 | File Size: 120 KB | Time: 00:30)
Drying and Storage Management Plans (MP3 | File Size: 247 KB | Time: 1:01)

Drying Tip 1 - Make Drying Part of Your Harvest Plan
How you approach drying will be an important component of your harvest plan this season. Let's say you harvest grain at 25 percent moisture. You will need to remove 10 points of moisture to reduce it to 15 percent. That means you have to remove between 5 and 5.3 pounds of water. You can do this by turning the water into vapor and the more water you extract from the grain the higher the temperature the kernel will get in a grain drying situation.

Drying Tip 2 - Maintain Kernel Quality
The wetter the grain the lower the temperature must be to maintain a better kernel quality and density. This will add additional processing value.
Adding Processing Value (MP3 | File Size: 176 KB | Time: 00:44)

Drying Tip 3 - Sample, Sample, Sample
As you're drying grain, you should always be taking samples. If you aren't satisfied with the grain sample coming through the dryer, reduce temperatures in 10-degree increments. Start at 190 F. Reduce by 10 degrees and let the dryer run for three to four hours. Check it again. Keep reducing by 10-degree increments until you get the sample you want.
Sampling Grain (MP3 | File Size: 258 KB | Time: 01:05)

Drying Tip 4 - Don't Over Cool Grain
Don't operate your grain dryer like you did last year. Instead, think about what the 2009 crop year threw at you. When using a continuous-flow grain dryer and as colder temperatures approach, take caution in not over-cooling the grain. This can cause stress fractures. Cracked and broken kernels don't store as well as whole kernels.

Drying Tip 5 - Limit Cold Air Against the Grain
All continuous-flow dryers are set up to cool grain within 10 degrees of ambient air temperatures in order to take out five points of moisture. When you increase moisture by more than five points - like you may have to do this year - and when outside temperatures cool, it's important not to put a large amount of cold air against the grain. Be sure to have all of the free air louvers open. This will add to overall energy costs in drying, but in return, you'll get better quality grain.
Drying in Cooler Temperatures (MP3 | File Size: 447 KB | Time: 01:53)

Storage Tip 1 - Begin Cool-Down Process Immediately
Begin the cool-down process as soon as your grain goes into storage. A 60,000-bushel bin with a 20 horsepower fan at 4 inch static pressure will provide 1/3 cubic feet per minute (CFM) of air. It takes three days of operation to reduce grain temperatures by 10 degrees. Ultimately you want grain cooled to 30 to 35 F for safe storage. As outside air temperatures start to decrease, you will want to get grain cooled down as quickly as possible.
Cooling Down Grain (MP3 | File Size: 326 KB | Time: 01:22)

Storage Tip 2 - Don't Skimp on Checking Grain
Freezing temperatures can cause stress fractures in grain, especially in higher density kernels. After harvest, it's important to check your grain on a weekly basis for four to six weeks until you are sure it's stable. This is necessary because sometimes the fan hasn't functioned adequately and condensation can set in. Once you know the grain is secure, it's OK to check your grain every two weeks.

Storage Tip 3 - Watch for Condensation
Have someone access the bin by the manhole using a ladder and have another person at the lower level. The person at the lower level should start the fan and run it three to five minutes. The person on the top level should get a handle on the air inside the bin, making sure there is no condensation, the air is fresh and cool and the static pressure gauge stays the same level as the previous two weeks. Continue doing this until the grain is ready to sell.
Grain Stability (MP3 | File Size: 222 KB | Time: 00:56)

Storage Tip 4 - Cover Fans in February if Storing Grain Until Summer
In April, grain temperatures should be about 40 F. If you're going to sell grain in July or August, have downstream louvers on the fan to restrict flow or make covers for bin fans and have them covered by the first of February.

Storage Tip 5 - Watch the Divot
Don't drop the divot (depression that forms in the center of the grain mass) on top of the bin more than about 18 inches of level. Keep it level to better control the aeration process. Keep bin as level after pulling from the center. Also, make plans in February regarding storage management steps if you're going to sell grain in July or August.
Marketing and Storing Grain (MP3 | File Size: 410 KB | Time: 01:44)

Storage Tip 6 - Protect Your Grain Investment
Your stored grain represents a huge investment. Make sure to take steps to protect that investment.
Securing Your Grain(MP3 | File Size: 147 KB | Time: 00:37)