Fall fell late and the crop fell early in 2006 and ironically that has created a problem.
Many farmers have their high quality grain stored away in bins, but the warm harvest temperatures may be corrupting otherwise prime commodities.
Grain is an excellent insulator and when it sits undisturbed, it will hold its temperature for a long time despite winter’s onset.
“A lot of this year’s harvest went into the bin hot and it’s at risk of serious problems,” said David VanThuyne of the Canola Council of Canada.
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Even when dry grain in otherwise excellent condition is placed into bins, its stored energy can create convection air currents and build pockets of moisture and heat.
Blaine Timlick is the Canadian Grain Commission’s senior entomologist and heads the agency’s insect infestation and sanitation programs.
“It’s an ideal year for serious grain spoilage problems,” he said.
Inside a grain bin, cold air at the top flows toward the outside and down the sides. At the same time, air in the better-insulated centre of the stored grain rises, drawing the cooler air toward the middle of the bin at its bottom.
Moisture collects in the cooler air and travels with it. When the wet air rises inside the warm centre of the bin, it begins to cool near the grain’s cold top surface and its moisture condenses, hydrating the grain.
Inside this area, moisture and warmth spawn germination, moulds thrive and insects hatch and reproduce. All of these processes create more heat and expand the problems.
The sudden and severe cold that has settled on parts of the Prairies is creating more extreme convection currents than are normally found. Agronomists and entomologists say producers must take action now to protect their inventories.
Grain above 13 percent moisture will easily support fungus, but much drier grain, less than eight percent, can be compromised by convection currents.
Bin temperatures should be checked every two weeks with either permanent bin sensors or with temperature probes.
When these systems are not available, a two-metre-long metal rod can be inserted into the top, central pile in the bin for 30 minutes.
When removed, the rod should be felt with the palm of the hand along its length.
If any part of the rod is warm to the touch, heating is occurring and the grain needs to be turned, aerated or marketed after inspection.
VanThuyne said producers can ease problems when loading their canola for delivery by drawing a load of grain from each bin throughout the winter. This will draw out warmer, moist seeds from all of their stored production and aid in balancing their facilities.
Timlick said larger bin sizes compound the issue.
“You need to get the bin temperature uniformly to below 15 C to avoid problems,” he said.
