Grain bins are some of the most valuable tools on the farm. While the traditional design might not have changed that much, the technology in and around the bin continues to evolve.

“We’ve definitely seen a trend toward bigger on-farm projects,” says Kevin Curry of Horizon Ag Systems in Wilmington, Ohio. “It’s not uncommon at all for farmers to put in million-dollar grain systems anymore.”

If you’re not ready for new, here are a few ideas that might be worth bolting to your existing setup.

1. On-Farm Drying System

• Pro: Start harvest early, protect against phantom yield loss
• Con: Big investment upfront, additional infrastructure often required
• Tip: “With a continuous flow system, you can bring in corn at 26%, or even up to 29%, which allows you to start harvest a lot earlier in the year,” says Nathan Luff of Luffland Builders in Bates City, Mo. “Counter-flow dryer systems have a center vertical auger and they have two sweep augers on the inside that are constantly bringing dry grain into the middle of the bin, up the center vertical and then transferring it out to another bin.”
• Investment: $$$$

Types: (Not an exhaustive list)
Continuous Flow Dryer - External, standalone, requires conveying equipment
Counter-Flow Dryer - In bin drying, not as fast
Mixed Flow Dryer - External, standalone, more fuel efficient, easier on the grain

2. Power Sweep

• Pro: Save time, sweep stays in bin, no setup, improved safety
• Con: Requires empty bin for installation, possible minor floor work
• Tip: “Pretty much any bin is a candidate unless it doesn’t have an aeration floor, which I would say 90% of farm bins do,” says Jordan Von Bokel of Wedekempers in Carlyle, Ill. “The biggest advantages are you can technically empty out your bin, or roughly 95% of it, without even getting in it.”
• Investment: $$$

3. Fan Upgrades

• Pro: Increase airflow, improve grain aerationy
• Con: Might require airflow analysis or other fan/vent work
• Tip: “Do you want more aeration or would you like to do some drying in the bin. The fan’s size depends on the farmer’s goal and the size of the bin,” Curry says. “Any grain bin dealer that sells fans has access to a program that can run an air flow model.”
• Investment: $$

4. Walk-Through Doors

• Pro: Easy install, improved access and safety
• Con: Bin must be empty, doors are somewhat expensive
• Tip: “Some of those older, smaller doors were often higher up and people could fall getting in or out,” Curry says. “It’s a lot easier to get in and out of the bin and it’s also safer if there were to be an emergency.”
• Investment: $$$$

5. Add Stairs, Handrails to Outside

• Pro: Safety, ease of access, improved monitoring, empty bin not required
• Con: Manlift often required for installation
• Tip: “If there’s something you need to do maintenance on or if you need to take some tools, i.e., a grease gun, or wrenches up to the top then stairs, it just makes it 100 times easier,” Curry says.
• Investment: $$$

6. Hazard Monitoring Sensors

• Pro: Monitor bearing temperatures, speed of equipment, early warning of failure or slippage
• Con: Requires monitoring software, sensors can fail
• Tip: “If a bearing starts to go bad it can get red hot, and in commercial elevators that can be a source of ignition,” Curry says. “We have started to see more of them on farms, not because of ignition, but as a way to monitor and make sure we’re not going to have a failure.”
• Investment: $$$$

7. Remote Grain Monitoring

• Pro: Monitor grain temperature, moisture, bin capacity, CO2 levels, external weather station
• Con: Cellular plan required, cost
• Tip: “Sensors allow you to see hotspots in your bin and turn on the fans, or some systems have automated fan controls,” Von Bokel says. “You can set the moisture or temp and it’ll add moisture to the grain if, for instance, you put in soybeans too dry. It can increase your test weight, which can help the system pay for itself.”
• Investment: $$$$

8. Sump Savers or Well Guard

• Pro: Keep bin center well from clogging, easy add-on
• Con: Some must be removed before running a sweep
• Tip: The guard keeps large grain clumps from falling into the center well and clogging it up. There are several different options including some that bolt to the floor, while others include a hydraulic motor with beaters to bust up clogs.
• Investment: $/$$

9. Fan Shutters

• Pro: Added safety, simple install, inexpensive
• Con: Added cost
• Tip: The shutters prevent air from escaping and/or forcing other fans to run backward, which is especially important when using burners for heat. “I’ve seen air from one fan blow with enough pressure to run a second fan backwards,” Von Bokel says. “Once we kicked a second fan on and when the burner lit it blew a flame outside of the bin and almost caught our service truck on fire.”
• Investment: $

10. Roof Vents

• Pro: Easy Install, simple solution for more air flow
• Con: Need to rent a manlift (for safety)
• Tip: Many older bins have a few or no vents in the roof.
• Investment: $$

The Concept of Phantom Yield Loss

Phantom yield loss occurs when corn is allowed to naturally dry down to a certain point before harvest. However, kernels are different today than in years past, says Farm Journal Field Agronomist Missy Bauer. With fewer kernels per bushel, it’s one reason why phantom yield loss is a bigger issue.

“Even though the crop is at the black layer stage, the kernel is still alive, and that kernel is going to continue to go through respiration, which can result in the loss of kernel weight,” Bauer explains. “When you dry it down in your dryer to 15%, then we’re basically killing it at that point.”

When the crop remains in the field it’s burning itself up, so to speak, with respiration, Bauer adds. That’s the concept of phantom yield loss.

Does the elusive dry matter lost equate to bushels? If so, is it enough to justify harvesting at higher moisture and paying for drying?

Click to learn more about the economics of phantom yield loss.