Grain Piles

Certainly, a grain pile is not the option of choice for storing excess grain,; however, paying attention to detail and controlling the things that you can control will make the experience less stressful.

Grain Piles
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While producers pin their hopes on having a bin busting crop at harvesttime, the ever-tightening availability of storage space can pose problems for elevator operators trying to manage space needs. So, whether you're a bin-is-half-empty or bin-is-half-full type of person, sooner or later, you have to deal with temporary storage issues.
Controlling variables
Certainly, a grain pile is not the option of choice for storing excess grain,; however, paying attention to detail and controlling the things that you can control will make the experience less stressful.
"Variables that can be controlled include grain pile location, the amount of grain to be stored, site preparation, grain condition (moisture/cleanliness, etc.), and the use of aeration," says Leland McKinney, Ph.D., extension state leader, Department of Grain Science and Industry, Kansas State University. "Conversely, operators need to accept the role played by those variables not in their control such as the weather and the amount of time grain is stored."
Once the operator has worked through some of the variables in their pre-prep planning, the important task of site preparation begins.
Site preparation
When considering a site for a possible grain pile, drainage should be one of the primary factors in your decision-making process. Choose a site that offers a natural high point or, a slight grade; this makes a better site location than filling in a low-lying area. Contact a contractor with road building experience if additional strengthening and stabilizing of the ground pad is required.
Make sure the pad features a crown at what would be the center of the grain pile — a slope of 1% to 2% is ideal — and that it features limited water permeability. The key here is water movement. The area around the pad needs to be well drained so water can move away from the outside edges of the pile.
On average, a grain pile can reach up to 2 acres in size. Since 1 inch of rain on a 1 acre surface, adds up to more than 27,000 gallons of water, it's clear to see the importance of moisture management.
The area required for the style of grain pile you choose is important as an operator must assess the volume of the specific grain to be piled and the equipment needed to do the job. Remember, give yourself plenty of space as trucks require up to a half acre of space or 130 feet of diameter just to turn around.
Grain is most commonly piled two ways: in a circular, cone-shaped pile or in an elongated, rectangular fashion. Since circular piles typically use stationary equipment for discharge and reclaim, the spout may be as high at 60 feet, and depending on the crop, volumes and heights of these piles can vary, as shown in Table 1.
If a portable, tractor-powered auger is used, an elongated, triangular shaped pile is formed. With heights ranging from 15 to 25 feet, the relative volumes for wheat, corn and grain sorghum are represented in Table 2. When working with these grain piles, height takes on an added dimension because when the pile exceeds 25 feet, the auger can get buried or the tractor's undercarriage may become stuck. Overhead conveyors are probably a best practice for these situations.
Grain placement and aeration
In a perfect world only grain that's dry, cool and clean would be stored in outside piles. But again, in a perfect world there would also be plenty of bin space to store grain.
A good target to shoot for is grain in the 50 to 60 degree F range, with 14 percent moisture content. Within these parameters, the elevator can maximize pile height and reduce exposure to weather damage.
"If grain is in excess of 60 degrees Fahrenheit, it would be wise to consider making smaller grain piles to promote more rapid heat los, and/or consider the installation of an aeration system," McKinney advises.
For rectangular piles aeration consists primarily of placing ventilation ducts parallel to the long axis of the pile.
This configuration not only aids grain reclaim but also promotes more effective cooling at the pile's core (see figure 1). Use low-velocity fans that deliver cooling at 0.1 cubic foot of air/minute/bushel, to the pile core. Using an aeration controller that is triggered by outside temperature will result in more rapid cooling.
Preserving grain quality
Since grain quality can suffer from outside storage in a relatively short period of time, further conditioning — like aeration, drying and blending - may be required during reclamation.
Avoiding possible commingling of spoiled grain with clean grain is easier said than done, but leaving spoiled grain along the pile edges as the rest of the pile is moved helps prevent having to blend all grain stored in outside piles.
Keep people and animals off grain piles as footprints can create valleys and creases which collect water. Unwanted sprouting and mold growth will occur anywhere water is found and will intensify spoilage. Placing a fence or barrier around the grain pile is highly recommended.
McKinney recommends that all elevator operators formulate a plan of action to better prepare themselves for storing grain outdoors. The University Extension system in your state has access to a wealth of information to help guide you through the entire process.
Table 1. Angle of repose, pile radius, and bushels for corn, wheat, and sorghum piled from 50 and 60 foot heights for cone shaped outdoor grain piles.Height (feet)GrainAngle of ReposePile RadiusBushelsNote: pack factor not included in bushel calculation Source: Kansas State University Dept. of Grain Science and Industry50Corn22°124 ft644,004Wheat25°107 ft479,526Sorghum27°98 ft402,25160Corn22°148 ft1,100,000Wheat25°129 ft832,581Sorghum27°118 ft696,272Table 2. Pile width (ft) and bushels for one foot length of elongated triangular shaped outdoor grain piles of corn, wheat, and sorghum piled at 15, 20, and 25 feet heights.Height15 ft20 ft25 ftGrainWidthBu/ftWidthBu/ftWidthBu/ftNote: pack factor not included in bushel calculationSource: Kansas State University Dept. of Grain Science and IndustryCorn74445997921241237Wheat6438685.86861071072Sorghum58.935378.562898981author: By Gerry Whitty




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