Reprinted from GRAIN JOURNAL March/April 2020 Issue
This article is based on a phone interview conducted in mid-March with Tim Sullivan, Tim Sullivan, LLC, Barnum, IA (515-351-0925). Grain Journal asked him for some tips on monitoring stored grain and what to do if quality problems arise.
How frequently should managers be monitoring their stored grain? What should they look for?
If you have a grain temperature monitoring system, run a scan of your temperature cables every other day. Look for temperature trends that indicate grain damage is occurring, but don’t stop here.
Perform inspections by walking around your facility, using your sense of smell. You might notice a sweet or sour smell that is indicative of a grain quality problem. Keep notes of your observations.
I also recommend facility managers use carbon dioxide monitoring equipment. It is inexpensive and easy to use. These monitors allow elevator operators to detect trends in carbon dioxide levels that indicate a developing quality issue. Like grain temperature monitoring systems, keep a record of the carbon dioxide measurement in order to recognize trends. A couple of benchmark numbers to have in mind are:
• 600 ppm – Increase the frequency of testing and prepare to take action.
• 1,500 ppm – You have some serious problems in the bin. Now, the question is: “How much, and how bad?”
What steps should managers take if there is any sign of grain going bad?
At any point in the storage year, facility managers should have a priority listing of what bins they will ship from based on moisture, grade factors, and anticipated storability. As the year progresses and issues are detected, you will need to adjust your priorities when it comes to shipping. If you have unexpected quality issues, then you likely need to tweak your shipping priorities.
Establishing shipping priority is of no value unless it is communicated to those who market your grain. You need to notify your merchandising department when there is an unexpected problem so they can make better decisions on shipment timing.
Once it is determined that grain may be going bad inside storage, what safety tips can you offer to anyone working with it?
There is a correlation between the occurrence of grain engulfments and out-of-condition grain. Grain quality is as much a safety issue as it is an economic consideration. Out-of-condition grain contributes to a huge safety hazard in our industry.
In response to the engulfments, extrications, and fatalities, companies have developed extensive grain bin entry policies and permit systems complying with or exceeding the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. However, we continue to see the situation occur where grain is placed in storage where the facility manager will be fighting an uphill battle to get the grain moved from the bin before deterioration occurs. Often times, the grain hangs up, and someone has to enter the bin to reestablish the grain flow to the discharge. Something terrible happens in the process.
This issue brings us back to the matter of stored grain quality. There is a science behind grain storage that gives us a pretty reliable estimate of what we can expect over time. Too often, managers are pushed into doing things that exceed the performance capabilities of the facility. Until companies’ top management acknowledge the absolutes that determine the outcomes of grain storage success and allow their facilities to be operated accordingly, these businesses are creating unnecessary employee hazards.”
