Cash farmers and grain elevator managers must sometimes make
some difficult decisions when, for various reasons, they harvest or receive
considerably more grain than their permanent storage structures can accommodate.
When this happens, the most common short-term solution chosen is to temporarily
store grain either outdoors on the ground, or in a structure designed for a
purpose other than for storing grain. The alternatives may be to rent additional
storage elsewhere or turn the grain away.
There are definitely risks and challenges associated with temporary
grain storage that must be considered. Some of the challenges involve maintaining
the quality and safety of the grain, while protecting the integrity of the structure
and the safety of personnel must also be considered. When appropriate precautions
are taken, temporary grain storage can be accomplished with minimal impact on
the quality or safety of the grain involved.
Flat Storage
Buildings not designed for the purpose of storing grain may present an increased
risk of collapse under the additional pressure exerted by the grain.
Temporary flat storage areas such as machine sheds, pole barns,
and garages can expose grain to contamination from such hazards as automotive
fluids and solvents. These areas should not be used unless you can be sure that
the area is adequately cleaned and prepared prior to storing the grain.
Because it is extremely difficult to clean bulk fertilizer bins
adequately, and equally difficult to assure that they are adequately clean,
MDA does not permit the storage of bulk agricultural commodities (i.e.
grain) in empty bulk fertilizer bins.
A key question to ask oneself is whether a building under consideration
can be sufficiently cleaned to enable the sanitary storage of grain that will
be stored there. If the building previously contained manure, ag chemicals,
or petroleum products, it may not be possible to completely remove these materials
and their odors so that grain will not be physically contaminated or pick up
the odors. This could result in marketing discounts or outright rejection at
the first point of sale. Also, one should carefully weigh whether the building
is constructed in such a way as to keep birds and rodents away from the grain.
The Michigan Department of Agriculture expects grain to be stored in such a
manner as to prevent excessive exposure to unsafe contamination or to conditions
such as those mentioned above, which can lead to unsafe contamination. This
applies whether grain is stored in a permanent structure designed for grain
storage, in a structure designed for another purpose, or outdoors and on-the-ground,
where it can become exposed, either partially or totally, to the elements.
Outdoor Storage
Outdoor storage of grain presents its own set of challenges. These include exposure
to precipitation, birds, animals, stones, and pre-existing soil contamination
(from pesticides, fertilizers, automotive fluids, etc.). Other on-site activities,
such as fertilizer or pesticide handling or application can be potential sources
of grain contamination.
Temporary Grain Storage Ideas Michigan State University
Extension offers the following recommendations for temporary grain storage.
Any potential surplus storage facility should be evaluated based on the following
factors.
Ability
to keep grain dry. Grain needs to be protected from precipitation,
surface water, and from soil moisture. You need a good roof or cover, good
drainage away from the storage site, and a vapor barrier that prevents soil
moisture from rewetting the bottom layers of grain. Concrete floors that do
not have a vapor barrier under them will, over time, allow soil moisture to
move up into grain. So if you intend to store grain on concrete for several
months, it would be best to put down a vapor barrier under the grain.
Ability
to withstand the pressure exerted by dry grain. Most buildings and
older silos will not withstand grain pressure without reinforcement. Alternatives
to reinforcing building walls include setting portable bulkheads inside the
walls, or assembling metal bin rings inside buildings.
Ease of
aerating the grain. In any situation where dry grain will be stored
more than a month or so, it is important to install some kind of system for
moving air through the grain to control its temperature. Aeration systems
in tower silos can be quite simple, but it can be tricky to design an aeration
system for a flat storage building that contains an odd-shaped pile. Some
air movement through the pile is essential. Facilities that have been adapted
for temporary grain storage should not be used to dry grain or to hold wet
grain in temporary storage facilities.
Ease of
moving grain in and out. For each potential storage site, consider
how much labor, what kind of equipment, and how much grain damage might be
involved in filling and emptying the structure. Tower silos are relatively
easy to empty (make sure, though, that grain is withdrawn from the center
of the silo to prevent uneven pressures and damage to the walls), but can
be a challenge to fill. Flat storage buildings can be hard to both fill and
empty. Pneumatic grain conveyors offer a lot of flexibility in loading and
unloading a variety of temporary storage structures.
Economics.
Make sure that whatever facility you select does not lead to spoiled grain
or have excessive cost per bushel (consider costs for remodeling, aeration,
labor, and equipment rental). The amount of grain that you can get into a
structure is an important part of the cost equation. Flat storage buildings
often have a disappointingly low storage capacity. Because dry grain forms
relatively flat piles (angle between the surface of the pile and a level surface
is often 25 degrees or less), buildings that have low ceilings don't hold
very much grain - especially if you can't pile grain against the sidewalls.
Cylindrical metal
bins are hard to beat for convenience and preservation of grain quality, so
before putting too much effort or money into adapting facilities for temporary
grain storage, check with neighbors to see if they have any bin space available
for rent. If you do rent space at another location, develop a written agreement
that spells out who is responsible for checking the grain, for electricity
costs, and for any repairs. (Article by Roger Brook – Adapted from information
originally prepared by Bill Wilcke, Extension Engineer, University of Minnesota,
August, 1998.)
In summary:
Use outdoor storage as a last resort. When storing grain outdoors, protect grain
on the bottom of the pile from soil, gravel, and moisture. Manage the fines,
aerate, cover, and move the grain as soon as possible.
For flat storage, remove residues from previous use, reinforce
the structure or don’t pile against walls, and provide good drainage,
a sound roof, and a vapor barrier in the floor.
When attempting to manage grain in temporary storage, fill last
when the weather is cooler, make sure grain is dry enough - do not try to dry
it while it is in temporary storage, consider cleaning the grain before storing
it, aerate, check frequently, and move the grain as soon as possible.
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