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
Benjamin Franklin once said, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Although we always advocate for preseason maintenance on your grain drying system, the cool and wet spring we were dealt has put us on track for a later harvest. This could also bring with it wetter than normal harvest moistures. With this looming, it’s even more important to have your grain handling system ready to go before the season hits. Regardless if you are taking care of issues from last fall, doing a preventative check-up or even toying around with some upgrades, now is the time to cross it off your to-do list. More
By: Tom Miller, Grain Handling Equipment
This spring’s weather conditions may make harvest seem awfully distant, but after the rush of planting is through, it’s a good idea to reflect on dryer setup. Seldom as we imagine our upcoming fall, do we remember the hassle of setting up the dryer. That is, of course, until the time actually comes to fire it back up again. Amidst the busyness and anticipation that comes with harvest the last thing you want to do is spend hours setting up your portable dryer. Thanks to GSI’s Auto-Start, what used to take 2-4 hours can now be done in minutes. More
By: Roger Slaughter, President and Tom Miller, Grain Handling Equipment Sales
We recently read an article in the Iowa Farmer Today titled, “Storage Savvy”. In this article, Steve Johnson, Iowa State University Extension Farm Management Specialist, shared his thoughts on why growers might build on-farm storage versus storing at an elevator. More
By: Tom Miller, Grain Handling Equipment Sales
Two seconds is the time you have to react when an auger starts to turn. In four seconds, you are trapped and need assistance to escape. After an additional 18 seconds, you have been fully engulfed by the moving grain. At this point, unless a successful rescue is had, suffocation will occur. A Purdue University study shows that there were 29 grain entrapment cases in 2016. Of those, 38% were fatal. When it comes to fatalities, one is too many. More
Employees are one of the most important ingredients in our recipe for success. Through our Employee Spotlight Blog Series, we like to highlight the people who serve our customers! Since 2015, Bruce Matt has helped with spring and fall fertilizer, along with other jobs around Stutsmans. This passionate farmer has been around agriculture is whole life and is a great member of our team! More
