Storing grains is very important to protect them for an extended period. After the harvest time, the grains may be stored in piles or vertical poles. The grain storage may be done in different structures in different locations. The crops have to be stored for a significant period after harvest. The storage bins must be designed to keep the moisture content and the temperature requirements in mind. We may feel it’s straightforward to buy grains, but we don’t know the hard work and difficulties of storing them.
Many people in rural areas are suffering from hunger and poverty due to a lack of food security. The manufacturers and the traders have to be very sure and keep the proper methods of storing their products after the harvest. They must pick the cost-effective way to store grains that must fit their operations. The long term storage requirements must be met to keep the grains for an extended period. Storing grains entails careful preparation, especially for more extended periods such as one year or more. The handlers of the grains should also bring the moisture content to the correct percentage, and the storage systems must be prepared to suit the storage of grains for the long haul. Here are a few more tips you must consider for storing grains for a longer period:
Prepare grain bins: The first step to properly storing the grains is setting the right storage facilities. The grain bins must be devised for this purpose, and they must be cleaned adequately before putting grains into them. The bins must be insect-free, and their floors must be clean. The size and the material used in building the grain bins is dependent on the type of grains you will hold in them. They must consist of sturdy ladders or staircases so that the grains can be effortlessly brought out of them. Before you build the grain bins, keep in mind the necessities of the coming season.
Store fine quality grains: If you think of storing your crop for an extended period, you must start with the ones already mature. The damaged crops and poor quality crops must not be used in the farms. If the grain is immature, there is quite a high chance that it cannot be used for long term storage purposes.
Right moisture content: Keeping the log term storage in mind, the grains should be dried to lower moisture content. You have to understand the correct moisture level to store your grain to be kept for more months after the harvest. The optimal balance must be maintained to avoid mould infestations in the grain bins.
Check the grains frequently: If you store grains for a considerable period, you have to check them often. Checking the grain bins at least three times a day is a must-have. This is the best way to save your money because it will be detected at the earliest if there is an issue. You can climb up to the top of the bins and smell the grains, and if there is something wrong, you can switch on the aeration fans.
Control the temperature: Once done thinking about the correct moisture content, you must also have a detailed view of the right temperature for storing grains. There must be temperature cables inside the grain bins to monitor the exact temperature inside the bins. The temperature requirements may also vary from region to region, and it has a solid bearing and affects the life of the grains. The grains must be kept cool in summers.
