If you do plan to store grain, especially for long periods, make sure that you're keeping grain in premium condition while it's in the bin. Bill Wilcke and Kenneth J. Hellevang, ag engineers with the University of Minnesota and NDSU Extension Service, offer the following tips for successful grain storage. If grain will be stored into next summer or if you often have problems with insects, consider applying a grain protectant as the crop is moved into storage. Contact your county extension office for the latest information on approved protectants. Contact potential buyers to see if they will accept treated grain-some will not.
Fines tend to congregate in pockets in storage bins.
They restrict airflow and are more susceptible to attack by molds and insects. Try to limit the amount of fines in storage by setting combines for minimum grain damage and maximum cleaning, operate grain augers slowly and full of grain to reduce kernel breakage, and consider cleaning grain before storage to remove fines. Either use a grain spreader to fill bins and distribute fines uniformly throughout the grain mass, or, if you don't use a spreader, periodically remove fines that accumulate in the bin center during filling. Keeping grain cool reduces mold and insect activity. Activity slows at temperatures below 60 F and almost ceases below 40 F. Because daytime temperatures are usually greater than 60 F in late summer and early fall, it might be necessary to operate fans at night to start the cooling process.