Grain Storage: Considerations

Transcription

1 Grain Strage: Cnsideratins Intrductin Grain strage is essential t any grain peratin in Alberta. Since the cmmercial grain handling system in western Canada cannt stre the entire crp harvested each fall. Grain strage is used as part f the entire grain marketing strategy. The prices f grain tend t be the lwest at harvest. It makes sense fr prducers t stre prductin until prices rise later in the year. Grain strage is als a tl fr incme tax purpses. Grain strage alternatives are abundant. Making the decisin f what system t invest in begins with assessing the needs f the entire peratin. Factrs t cnsider are: Size f peratin and strage needed New build r expansin Distance f land frm strage area Cst Type(s) f cmmdity being stred Lifespan Land rented r wned Average yields fr the peratin Age f peratr and successin plans Grain cnditins while string Current cash flw and/r lan needs Ability t mnitr strage bins Labur availability during the year Accessibility f the strage site Equipment needs Resale value Optins needed (aeratin, handling system, mnitrs, sweeps, etc.) Pest and wildlife issues Length f strage The decisin t use either permanent r temprary strage is unique t each individual s situatin. Generally permanent strage is preferred t maintain grain quality and fr the ease f use. That said, sme temprary systems are becming ppular due t their flexibility. Permanent Strage Permanent strage includes any affixed structures nt easily mveable such as bins (crrugated and smth walled steel, sheds/qunsets and Farmer wned elevatrs Advantages Disadvantages Prvides peace f mind that grain will be safe (aeratin, limited cntaminatin, misture barrier and reduced pest and wildlife damage) Investment fr future resale Ease f handling Facilities can be used fr ther uses (i.e. smth walled bins fr fertilizer strage, sheds fr equipment) Cstly t setup and takes time t build (prper fundatins are needed) Permanent and mre cstly fr grain transprtatin if land is nt clse t the structures Maintenance is required Structures need t be cleaned befre using

2 Steel Bins There are tw main types f steel bins, crrugated steel r smth walled. Smth walled bins have a higher upfrnt cst than crrugated, but can be used fr bth fertilizer and grain strage and have minimal assembly csts. Smth walled bins cme with hpper bttms and are quick and easy t install. Crrugated bins are mre ecnmical and cme in larger capacities than smth walled. Either type f bin prvides aeratin, permanent handling slutins, hpper bttms and resale value. Brands, sizes and additinal ptins can be purchased fr either crrugated r smth wall bins. Prices are dependent n the bin size and additinal ptins. Larger bins nrmally have a lwer investment per bushel, but lack lnger term flexibility. Grain quality is mre difficult t manage in a larger bin. With smaller bins ne can reduce the risk f jepardizing a large vlume f crp if there is a strage issue. Maintenance n grain bins is minimal, ensuring they are cleaned when emptied and inspected fr insects, crrsin, lse blts, fundatin cracks and pr seals. Any mechanical equipment shuld have the dust cleaned ff and ensure that electrical equipment is nt damaged. In smth walled bins if switching frm fertilizer t grain, the bin shuld be pressure washed n the inside t remve any fertilizer dust. With prper maintenance, minimal wear and tear will ccur and increase the lifespan and quality f the bin. Hpper bttm bins have gd resale value as they are easier t mve as ppsed t flat bttm bins. Grain peratins wuld lk at investing in steel bins if: They wned the majrity f the land farmed Land was lcated clse t the bin system(s) Existing bin and auger system that is easy t add nt They rely n aeratin t maintain quality There is a need t clsely mnitr grain fr quality The peratin has plans t be in business fr a lng time Need lng term grain strage (ver 8 12 mnths) They stre high quality crps (malt, milling wheat, durum, canla, human cnsumptin pulses) They lk at the bins as an investment They want peace f mind that grain is relatively safe frm pests, wildlife, weather and theft The need fr flexibility t stre fertilizer r seed is imprtant Sheds Sheds can als be used t stre grain. Either steel r fabric buildings can be used. If the building has a cncrete flr cnsider washing the flr and sidewalls befre string grain, especially if it was used fr ther purpses. If there is n cncrete flr a misture barrier shuld be laid dwn. Sheds hld less grain than expected as they can nly withstand minimal weights n the sidewalls. Grain packages can be purchased fr sheds that will reinfrce r tie tgether the walls allwing fr a higher lad capacity. Fr fabric buildings, cncrete sidewalls need t be pured t allw grain t pile against them. Aeratin is difficult t achieve in a shed and rf vents are required t allw fr ventilatin. Fabric buildings are

3 mre ecnmical than steel sheds, but have a shrter lifespan. An peratin wuld chse a shed t stre grain if strage is infrequent and the shed can be used fr ther purpses. Farmer Owned Elevatrs In the 1990 s when grain cmpanies were cnslidating grain terminals and building large high thrughput cncrete facilities, small wden grain elevatrs were being trn dwn r sld. In sme cases a prducer wuld purchase a wden elevatr fr grain strage. This wrks well if the land being farmed is within clse range f the elevatr but very few farms have this luxury. Additinally grain elevatrs require a tremendus amunt f maintenance and upkeep as many f the facilities are quite ld. The pprtunity t purchase an existing wd elevatr is limited. Temprary Strage includes any system that hlds grain n a temprary basis r has a limited life span. These include grain bags, plywd r steel bin rings with tarps, piles and bunkers. Advantages Readily available in times f excess prductin Usually have minimal investment Prtable (can be placed in the lcatin f chice) Disadvantages Reduced ability t prvide misture and heat management (aeratin) Creates waste wasted grain and materials waste Limited resale value Risk f pest, wildlife, misture and cntaminatin damage Challenging lading and unlading Shrt strage perid (6 8 mnths) Grain Bagging Systems Grain bags are a recent grain strage ptin. These systems require a bagger, extractr and the bag. Bagging systems keep grain airtight frm misture and pests. Bags are gd shrt term strage ptin. If stred fr t lng damage t the bag can ccur and spilage can result. The system allws fr grain t be stred right in the field, eliminating trucking during harvest. In sme situatins, high misture grain can be stred in grain bags with minimal risk f heating. Grain bags are at a higher risk f having puncture hles frm wildlife, mechanical damage (snwmbiles) r trees. Due t this risk bags shuld be mnitred regularly fr damage and repaired t reduce grain spilage. Sme ptins t reduce bag breakdwn include using a thicker ply bag r installing reusable bag cvers. Bags usually hld abut 10,000 bushels s small vlumes f grain d nt wrk well fr this system.

4 Bags shuld be lcated in a well drained area away frm trees r ther ptential surces f damage. The surface needs t be level and smth with n stnes r sharp bjects. Picking an area that is accessible in the winter als needs t be cnsidered. Grain baggers and extractrs require yearly and seasnal maintenance. The bagger and extractr have hydraulics, mving parts, augers and tires; regular inspectin and greasing f all the parts is required. With wear and tear n baggers and extractrs parts may break and will need t be replaced. Equipment in gd wrking rder will capture a gd resale value but as the equipment ages and new technlgy cmes n the market the equipment will becme bslete. Dispsing the plastic nce the grain has been remved can create prblems. Nt all municipalities have recycling prgrams in place and if s, require that plastic t be clean and rlled. Sme extractrs have built in rllers but thers d nt. Rlling the plastic is time cnsuming and difficult t rll tightly. Fr municipalities that d nt have recycling prgrams they may nt accept plastic r charge a tipping fee. Burning plastic is nt recmmended as it is hazardus fr human health and the envirnment. Grain peratins wuld lk at using a bagging system if: The peratin has a large amunt f rented r leased land with n ther strage ptins There is a need fr shrt term strage The peratr plans t exit the business in the near future (equipment is easier t sell than physical bins) Limited available trucking during harvest The peratin has land lcated a lng distance away frm grain bin strage sites String lw quality crps (feed wheat and barley, sample canla) Grain is dry and des nt need t be dried r aerated r is willing t stre high misture grain Recycling ptins are available fr the plastic Large vlume strage is needed Grain Ring and Tarp Grain rings and tarps cme with either wd rings r steel rings. This system is useful fr temprary strage, but nt recmmended fr lnger perids f time. Pest, wildlife and misture damage are the biggest cncern when string grain in this system. By keeping the grain cntained in the rings and using a tarp, grain quality can be maintained much better than pen piling. T keep the rings and tarps in gd cnditin they need t be dismantled and stred when nt in use. If using steel rings, the tarps need t be replaced well befre the ring wears ut. Wd rings are much mre ecnmical, but have a shrter lifespan than steel rings. Aeratin hles and in lad ut lad prts can be installed int the ring. Bunkers A bunker system can be designed with many different materials such as bales, wd, cement, steel and earth. These systems can stre large amunts f grain and mst bunkers can be tarped. This system has ptential fr pest, wildlife and misture issues.

5 Open Piles If grain needs t be stred fr a shrt perid f time, uncvered pen piles are a lw t n cst slutin. This system is nt recmmended fr lnger term strage as it has n prtectin frm misture, wildlife and pests. There is a greater chance fr grain t spil and t have cntaminants such as animal feces and sil tag. Csts and Features f Cmmn Grain strage the table belw shws the mst cmmn permanent and temprary strage ptins with average csts, size ranges, lifespan, maintenance and ptins Grain ring & tarp Crrugated hpper Crrugated flat bttm Smth walled hpper Grain Bagging System Wd Steel Bagger Extractr Bag Cst/bushel r machine $ (apprx.) ,000 50,000 40,000 50, Rent 0.07 Set up csts Labr Labr Gravel base Cncrete base Gravel base Minimal labr Cmmn Size Range (bushels) 1,500 12,000 3, ,000 1,500 9,500 1,500 55,000 1,000 6,000 Bag hlds apprximately 10,000 bushels, number f bags are unlimited Lifespan (years) Maintenance High High Lw Lw Lw Medium Medium High Resale value Lw Lw High Medium High Medium Medium Optins Out lad and aeratin prts Aeratin, handling systems, mnitrs, canla flrs, bin sweeps Bag cvers, bag rllers, sealers

6 Rental When land is being rented r leased, adding permanent strage des nt always make sense. Rental f bin space is an ptin. Bin space culd be rented frm, a neighbur, land wner r lcal retired farmer. Grain extractrs can be rented fr grain bagging systems as ppsed t investing in the equipment. Set up and Lcatin Fr a grain handling system t be effective, thught and attentin shuld be given t the set up and lcatin. Sme things t cnsider when designing a grain handling system are: Trucks ability t maneuver fr lading and unlading Size f trucks and handling equipment Distance frm field t strage Auger mvement and psitining Drying and aeratin needs Accessibility t strage all year rund Ptential damage risks (trees, wind etc.) Ease f mnitring Theft risk and security Every grwing seasn is different and it is hard t anticipate the exact strage needs the farm peratin. Investing in grain handling and strage facilities require careful cnsideratin f bth current and future strage capacity needs. Lking at future plans fr the entire farm will assist in yur strage decisin. Other Resurces: Grain Strage Price Cmparisns Management f Cereal Grain in Strage Cereal Grain Drying and Strage Strage f Canla Grain Strage as a Marketing Strategy References: Kansas State University. September, The Ecnmics f On Farm Strage. AGSTAR Financial Services, ACA. Jhn Hanssen