The present market demand in the agricultural sector for food crops is so large that the only feasible way of meeting it is to farm on a commercial basis. This requires enormous farms and proportionally large harvests. In the event of a bumper crop of which some remains unsold, or if grain needs to be stored for a period of time, farmers run the risk of losing some of it to natural causes of decay. This makes grain bin monitoring critical in preventing such losses.
There several crops which are stored in bins or silos. They range from pulses (such as lentils), soybeans, beans and rice to cereals like barley, oats and, of course, corn (wheat). Keeping the stored crop safe involves the careful moderation of two environmental factors in storage systems: moisture and temperature. In order to achieve that, farmers have to be able to measure both.
Farmers try to store their crops for long periods of time by drying it out. They do this by passing heated air through them. They then lose some of their moisture and can be stored for more than a year. The aim is to achieve the equilibrium moisture content or EMC, so that there is no movement of moisture between the crops and the air around them.
The temperature and humidity are measured by inserting specially designed cables into the grain in the bin. These cables record measurements of conditions in the bin's interior. The measurements can be shown on the display of a handheld device at the bin itself or on a computer screen in an office somewhere else. Using the equipment's readings, farmers can set the temperature to regulate the storage environment and the grain's moisture content.
At present, there are measuring systems on the market that involve the use of specially designed computer programs. These programs have the capacity to accumulate the measurements of numerous storage sites at the same time and show them on the screen or upload them onto the internet. They can also give their operators automatic notice of problematic conditions in a bin.
Agriculture involves substantial costs, and bin storage and crop drying are no exception to this reality. Having said that, the process has distinct positive consequences. Surplus crops can be kept for the following season, either as seed material or the market. Grains are traded as international commodities these days and so some farmers might try to retain crops in storage until they are satisfied with their price. A farmer may even store their entire harvest, so the elimination of threats is imperative.
Causes of damage to stored produce are through the activity of insects, or fungi (mold). Kernels that have had their moisture content brought down to about 10% aren't susceptible to insect or mold damage any more. However, they may be less likely to germinate if they are sown. Farmers need to assess how they intend to use the grain against the risk of losing some of the harvest.
Managing massive commercial harvests is an essential stage in the food supply system of modern countries. In the absence of storage technology, crops would be at risk of destruction by insects and adverse weather. Monitoring grain in storage is important in providing food to the public at a reasonable price.
There several crops which are stored in bins or silos. They range from pulses (such as lentils), soybeans, beans and rice to cereals like barley, oats and, of course, corn (wheat). Keeping the stored crop safe involves the careful moderation of two environmental factors in storage systems: moisture and temperature. In order to achieve that, farmers have to be able to measure both.
Farmers try to store their crops for long periods of time by drying it out. They do this by passing heated air through them. They then lose some of their moisture and can be stored for more than a year. The aim is to achieve the equilibrium moisture content or EMC, so that there is no movement of moisture between the crops and the air around them.
The temperature and humidity are measured by inserting specially designed cables into the grain in the bin. These cables record measurements of conditions in the bin's interior. The measurements can be shown on the display of a handheld device at the bin itself or on a computer screen in an office somewhere else. Using the equipment's readings, farmers can set the temperature to regulate the storage environment and the grain's moisture content.
At present, there are measuring systems on the market that involve the use of specially designed computer programs. These programs have the capacity to accumulate the measurements of numerous storage sites at the same time and show them on the screen or upload them onto the internet. They can also give their operators automatic notice of problematic conditions in a bin.
Agriculture involves substantial costs, and bin storage and crop drying are no exception to this reality. Having said that, the process has distinct positive consequences. Surplus crops can be kept for the following season, either as seed material or the market. Grains are traded as international commodities these days and so some farmers might try to retain crops in storage until they are satisfied with their price. A farmer may even store their entire harvest, so the elimination of threats is imperative.
Causes of damage to stored produce are through the activity of insects, or fungi (mold). Kernels that have had their moisture content brought down to about 10% aren't susceptible to insect or mold damage any more. However, they may be less likely to germinate if they are sown. Farmers need to assess how they intend to use the grain against the risk of losing some of the harvest.
Managing massive commercial harvests is an essential stage in the food supply system of modern countries. In the absence of storage technology, crops would be at risk of destruction by insects and adverse weather. Monitoring grain in storage is important in providing food to the public at a reasonable price.
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