Spring brings about the much-missed warmer weather, but with it also comes the risk of spoiled grain. As the outside temperature increases, moisture can condense and migrate in the cooler bin, leading to spoiled grain. Ultimately, the goal of spring grain management is to prevent this from happening. If you are storing grain through the spring and summer months, here’s what you need to know to maintain grain quality.More
By: Jenny Lichty
You shouldn’t be going to the funeral for your best friend’s husband at the age of 27. You want to think it won’t happen. But the message comes. You reread it over and over thinking this can’t be true.
Although most every grain bin project we do has some level of customization to the grower’s specific needs, we had two projects in 2020 that were truly unique. It’s certainly not an everyday occurrence to have grain bins that will be used for something other than storage.
If you’ve ever climbed a bin or dryer, you understand that heart-dropping moment when your foot slips. Odds are, you’ve also experienced making repairs while clenching multiple tools and somehow holding on to the bin at the same time. Although typically overshadowed by other ag hazards like bin entrapments, PTO entanglements, and machinery accidents, falls still plague producers of all ages. Over the past few years, grain bin safety improvements have become a higher priority for many of our customers.More
By: Roger Slaughter & Tom Miller, Grain Handling Equipment
Odds are you know the phrase “don’t put off for tomorrow what can be done today”; this couldn’t be truer for grain bin and dryer maintenance. With the brief break between planting and harvest, as well as the likelihood of bins being empty, summer is the perfect time to make sure your grain handling system is good to go for fall. As you make your maintenance rounds, be sure to check out the condition of your bin floors.More
The 2019 crop year downright sucked. But if there is any relief in sharing the misery, I can promise you weren’t alone in on-farm storage struggles. The wet crop not only wreaked havoc on dryers but it could cause problems with storage quality. If extra storage precautions aren’t taken now, the wet crop could cause just as many headaches coming out of the bin as it did going in.More
We’ve been blessed with many advancements over the years that have made us more efficient, more productive, and most definitely have made our lives easier. One of the newer technologies gracing the on-farm storage sector is the ability to remotely monitor (and some cases control) drying systems. Night checks can now consist of checking your phone/app instead of dragging yourself out of bed and heading outside.More
In agricultural production, fighting off insects is a constant battle. These pests lower grain quality in bins, affect animal health and production, and can even cause damage to buildings and stored goods. It pays to invest in insect control solutions, and our recommendation is INSECTO. INSECTO is great for controlling insects in grain bins, poultry production, and buildings/warehouses. More
As we prepare for harvest, I can’t help but think how this unusual spring will impact growers and not just from a yield perspective. Between a pushed back fall and the itch to get in the field, there will likely be higher than normal moisture levels harvested, making dryer efficiency more important now than ever. To ensure your drying equipment is running at peak efficiency and to prevent any downtime, check out these five simple tips.More
Constantly looking for ways to be a little bit better than the day before, Eldon was always on the lookout for innovative products to better serve customers. As gas-powered combines and shelled corn started to become more popular in the post-war 50s, on-farm grain bins started coming on to the scene. Recognizing the opportunity to pioneer the selling of grain storage and drying equipment in Southeast Iowa, Eldon brought on the Black, Sivalls & Bryson (BS&B) line of bins. At this time, Butler was their biggest competitor.More
