Rising Temps Put Grain Storage at Risk

As spring temperatures climb, farmers are being urged to closely monitor grain bins to prevent quality losses. Ken Hellevang, ag engineer, North Dakota State University Extension, said rising sun angles and seasonal warmth can lead to dangerous hot spots inside storage bins. “There’s a lot of solar energy in addition to the warmer temperatures,” said Hellevang. “Surprisingly, on the south wall of the bins, we’re looking at probably twice as much energy hitting that south wall per hour,” which can significantly raise temperatures near bin walls and at the top of the grain mass. Moisture content is another key concern, especially for crops like soybeans. While 13 percent is considered market-ready, Hellevang said that’s too high for safe long-term storage as the weather warms. “If we end up holding them into the warmer temperatures of spring and summer, they need to be down closer to that 11 percent, 12 percent at most.” Without proper moisture and temperature management, grain quality can quickly deteriorate, leading to spoilage and economic loss.