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 are a number of types of crop which are stored in this way, either in bins or silos. They are wheat (corn), barley, oats, soy, rice and beans and pulses like lentils. In order to ensure the sustained quality of the stored produce, farmers need to regulate two environmental conditions in the storage system: temperature and moisture. But before they can do that, they need to be able to measure both of them.
The standard technique in long-term storage is to dry the crops out to a deliberate extent. This is done by aerating or ventilating the grain in the bin with warmer air. Some of the natural moisture of the kernels is lost and it is then easier to store them for more time, sometimes more than a year. Farmers try to maintain EMC, or equilibrium moisture content, so that no moisture moves into or out of the grain from the surrounding air.
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.
The management of vast commercial crops is part of the food security of modern economies. Without such technology, farmers would be more vulnerable to changing weather and insect plagues. Monitoring stored grain is therefore important in ensuring that food is available and at an affordable price.
There are a number of types of crop which are stored in this way, either in bins or silos. They are wheat (corn), barley, oats, soy, rice and beans and pulses like lentils. In order to ensure the sustained quality of the stored produce, farmers need to regulate two environmental conditions in the storage system: temperature and moisture. But before they can do that, they need to be able to measure both of them.
The standard technique in long-term storage is to dry the crops out to a deliberate extent. This is done by aerating or ventilating the grain in the bin with warmer air. Some of the natural moisture of the kernels is lost and it is then easier to store them for more time, sometimes more than a year. Farmers try to maintain EMC, or equilibrium moisture content, so that no moisture moves into or out of the grain from the surrounding air.
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.
The management of vast commercial crops is part of the food security of modern economies. Without such technology, farmers would be more vulnerable to changing weather and insect plagues. Monitoring stored grain is therefore important in ensuring that food is available and at an affordable price.
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