Did the thought, “it’ll make it through another season” cross your mind this fall? Or do you have a special set of instructions to start up that old fan or heater? While grain handling equipment does have a long life expectancy and basic repairs here and there are normal, it’s become harder to find parts for older systems. How much do you keep investing to get by just one more season? Where do you draw the line and invest in new?More
The time of cooler weather and full bins are upon us, which also means rodents have likely pegged your facilities as cozy places to stay with an all-you-can-eat buffet. On top of being nasty, disease-carrying critters, they can be rather destructive when it comes to grain quality, buildings and equipment. The USDA estimates that these critters cause $2 billion in damages… and that’s just in livestock feed. From the whole U.S. economic standpoint, damages are estimated to be much higher at $20 billion (Bennett, 2021).More
From golf balls to running the auger in reverse, we’ve heard of various ‘fixes’ for dealing with a plugged grain bin sump. On top of slowing the unload process, clogged sumps can just plain cause major headaches… and who has time for that?! While we hope our customers never have to deal with this headache, we’ve found the most consistent way to tackle plugged grain bin sumps is to take a proactive approach and prevent them in the first place. With these few tips, hopefully the only problem you’ll be dealing with during unload is being able to turn trucks fast enough.More
Plugged dryers and dryer fires are something we often hear about given the nature of our business. But it doesn’t take long to find stories about both topics, especially dryer fires, online in crop production Facebook groups and ag forums. A lot of the posts start out a little something like “has anyone had problems with their dryer running a little hot in certain columns” or “my dryer caught on fire today … looking for recommendations.” We’ve found the common factor many times is a buildup of trash: sticks, cobs and fines. In these cases, a fairly simple tweak often can have a major impact.More
You’ve gotten the grain out of the field. It’s been dried to the desired moisture and now it sits … in a bin, just waiting.
You’ve done everything as recommended leading up to this point. However, while grain could enter the bin at the suggested moisture and within the ideal temperature range, continuing to check the grain temperature while in storage is the other measure to help prevent loss to spoilage.More
Just another workout, you know, carrying a grain bin sweep and motor.More
Some customers come in knowing exactly what they want in a grain drying system. It might be they have an allegiance to a brand or have been down this road before. However, comparing the three brands of grain dryers we carry – Shivvers, GSI and Sukup – would be like trying to compare a Ford and a Chevrolet to a Winnebago RV. Instead, let’s look at the pros and cons of the two different grain drying systems and things to consider when it comes to determining your grain dryer needs.
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When harvest is in full swing, we know your top priority is keeping the combine moving and getting the crop out of the field. However, a successful harvest can quickly be ruined if stored grain is not properly managed in the fall and winter months. The first step to ensure grain quality should occur before the crop even enters the bin.More
This isn’t the first grain bin project that Cedar Ridge has trusted us with. In fact, they purchased their first GSI bin from us nearly seven years ago to hold 1,000 bushels of grain.More
By: Roger Slaughter and Tom Miller, Grain Handling Equipment Sales
You know how frustrating it is to have a dryer break down in the heat of harvest. While all malfunctions can’t be stopped, a great deal can be prevented with a pre-season dryer check. Getting maintenance done in the summer can help keep you running when it’s go-time this fall.More
