Tips for Holding on to Grain Quality

It’s possible to almost guarantee that you can hold grain in your bin for up to two years with no losses, by following a simple set of rules for grain handling and storage.

While most of these pertain specifically to corn, the same basic rules can be applied to soybeans, wheat and rice. The key is to get the grain properly dried, handle it lightly, and use aeration to get the grain cooled quickly and keep the temperature down.

1. Dry grain to an ideal moisture.
   • 15 percent for grain left cold and sold in the spring
   • 14 percent for grain to be held until fall
   • 13 percent for grain that you plan to hold for more than a year
2. Run the aeration fans as grain enters the bin to equalize moisture – this can take 5 to 10 days, but it keeps the grain in its best condition for storage.
3. Get the temperature of the grain below 50 degrees ASAP – this is where nearly all insect and mold activity ceases.
4. Pull the bins with peaked grain down so the center is just below the corn at the wall. The grain will look like an “M” from the side. This promotes air movement in the center.
5. As soon as possible bring the grain down into the 30’s. In the spring keep the grain temperature within 10 degrees of the ambient average and after the ambient gets above 50 manage aeration to keep the grain as cool as possible for the rest of the summer.
6. Check the grain weekly for crusting or a noticeable smell. If anything is wrong, start aeration, and if that won’t fix it, your best bet is to unload the affected grain so it won’t impact remaining grain.