Home » Industry News » Agriculture » The importance of moisture maintenance in grain storage

MOISTURE control in grain storage means money. The option to harvest and supply grain to the market before your competitors not only reduces on- field risks but also increases your potential earnings based on market supply and demand.

While harvesting early reduces the risk of crop damage due to extreme or unexpected weather (think climate change), pests, theft or animal invasion, harvesting grain crops with a higher moisture content comes with its own challenges. These include mould and pest infestation while in storage and the need to reduce the moisture content to market prescribed levels. But SBS Agri has you covered. 

The SBS Agri Automated Grain Drying and Conditioning system alleviates these risks and allows for harvest at as much as three months early and at a moisture content of up to 27%. The system dries grain to the globally accepted threshold of below 14% moisture content, maintaining this moisture level for extended periods in aerated grain bins regulated by the SBS Agri Automatic Fan Control (AFC) Unit.

Following harvest and cleaning, grain can be dried to within the desired moisture content range using an SBS Hot Air Generator. Grain drying can be terminated when a moisture content of between 15-17% is achieved, reducing both drying time and cost moved to storage bins and cooled to further reduce the moisture content of the grain by up to 3%.

Maintaining a storage temperature within the silo and keeping grain at a constant temperature of between 15 – 20°C is a highly efficient means of preventing mould, insect and pest development and infestation, preventing hot spots and retaining the correct moisture percentage, allowing grain farmers to store grain for extended periods of time. The SBS Agri AFC unit controls the aeration fans used on storage bins using electronic humidity sensors. These sensors can measure the humidity in the atmosphere to an accuracy of within 2%. 

Designed to automatically select the best time to run the aeration fans, the AFC unit continuously checks atmospheric conditions, automatically switching fans on and off and only running when conditions benefit the stored grain. The humidity sensors on the unit are set according to the specific grain equilibrium chart to ensure grain is stored and maintained to the desired requirements.

By eliminating the need for manual monitoring and the risk of human error, the SBS Agri AFC unit allow farmers to take a much needed break with the confidence that their grain is safely stored.   

Saving costs and protecting your stored grain should not be giving you restless nights, you need to talk to us today. Email:  info@sbsagri.co.za  or visit our website for more information on the SBS Agri systems and solutions that can make your farm more profitable.