Kane County, Ill. | Reuters — Lucas Strom, who runs a century-old family farm in rural Illinois, canceled an order to buy a new US$71,000 grain bin last month — after the seller raised the price five per cent in a day. The reason: steel prices jumped right after U.S. President Donald Trump announced tariffs. […] Read more
Steel tariff shrapnel hits U.S. farmers
Making sense of today’s grain storage options
There are more options for grain storage today than ever before, but which ones are best for your farm?
Reading Time: 4 minutes Today’s grain storage is not like yesterday’s grain storage. Not only are farms generally bigger, necessitating higher capacity for on-farm storage, but storage also plays a crucial role in crop producers’ marketing strategies. It can also be expensive. According to provincial government data, grain bin prices have increased from $2.50 per bushel in 2004 to […] Read more
When storing grain, remember to SLAM
Paying attention to sanitation, loading, aeration, and monitoring is key to avoiding storage problems
Reading Time: 3 minutes This fall when you’re preparing your grain for storage, all you need to do is remember to SLAM. That’s short for sanitation, loading, aeration, and monitoring. The first step — removing any dust or debris from your bins before harvest — is “obviously important,” said Ryan Braun, Canadian sales manager for OPI, a grain storage […] Read more
Beat high winds by anchoring your bins
More extreme weather coupled with modern bins that are taller and lighter is a recipe for trouble
Reading Time: 3 minutes It doesn’t matter what side of the climate change debate you’re on, few producers would deny that, for whatever reason, weather is getting more extreme. Between hurricane-force winds and the generally lighter and taller designs of many modern grain bins, there seems to be more instances of grain bins being knocked over or otherwise damaged. […] Read more
Cutting through the clutter on bin aeration
What equipment you need and when to aerate are just two of many questions when it comes to protecting grain in the bin
Reading Time: 5 minutes With hot and dry conditions throughout much of this year’s growing season, proper aeration of grain has become more important than ever in order to prevent overheated grain or spoilage. At the same time, there’s a never-ending parade of new aeration solutions on the market, creating a lot of confusion among growers looking for better […] Read more
Do the math on bins versus baggers
Bin prices have jumped sharply in the past decade, but producers need to carefully evaluate the pros and cons of grain bags
Reading Time: 2 minutes Recent record yields and transportation backlogs have increased interest in on-farm storage options. “There are many different storage options available, either temporary or permanent,” said Todd Bergen-Henengouwen, project assistant with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. “The two most popular options are steel grain bins (either corrugated or smooth walled with or without hoppers) and grain […] Read more
Temperatures climbing? Check the grain bins
As much as warmer weather may have growers in Ontario thinking of spring planting, a provincial ag specialist warns farmers to consider the old crop ahead of any plans for the new crop. Temperatures are moderating and in southern Ontario, they’ve risen well above freezing for the first time in nearly two months. That’s prompted […] Read more
Watch closely for damp grain in storage bins
Wet grain has to be dealt with quickly, hot grain cooled down
Reading Time: < 1 minute Wet weather has not only slowed down harvesting and reduced quality, but increased the potential for storage problems, says provincial crop specialist Harry Brook. “There might be a temptation to harvest damp or wet grain just to get it in the bin,” said Brook. “But the issue of wet grain has to be dealt with […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
