A large temperature difference between stored grain and the ambient temperature can cause problems for stored grain, but growers need to be careful how they equalize it. When the temperature warms in the spring and summer, growers with temperature cables in their bins should be monitoring them weekly or biweekly. When temperature differences along the […] Read more
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Producers must monitor grain bins as temperature warms
Keeping the lid on grain drying temperatures is critical
Growers should play it safe and not surpass recommended drying temperatures because it can be difficult to tell if grain has been damaged from overheating. “If you have too high a temperature and the grain is exposed to it for too long you will not necessarily see it. The only way you will pick that […] Read more
Feeding with a bucket takes on a new meaning
Adding a hydraulic auger to a front end loader bucket design was a start, adding variable rates and gates finished it
Small cattle operators and growers who need to mix soil for smaller vegetable beds may be interested in the some of the updates Danuser made to its material handling bucket. The Mega Mixer was designed to scoop, mix and dispense material from livestock feed grain to concrete. Mike Willis of Danuser said the company sells […] Read more
Thinking about your bladder in the bin changes
GSI’s Z Series grain storage bins use inflatable bladders that make cleanout a breeze. “It eliminates the need for any kind of sweep augers or paddle sweeps or any kind of sweeping mechanism inside of a flat bottom bin system,” said Jarod Wendt of GSI. “During the typical unload, you can still open up the […] Read more
Optical sorters: higher volume, greater accuracy
Optical colour sorters have been employed in the delicate task of kicking bad seeds out of high-value pulse crops for about two decades. But now they do so much more. “The technology has really advanced in the past five years. They’re bigger and they handle more volume faster than before. The hardware and software are […] Read more
Don’t let trade disruptions ruin your canola
Summer is a dangerous time for grain in the bin, especially canola. And China’s recent rejection of Canadian canola imports seems likely to keep that canola binned up tight, where it’s at a high risk of heating. Some farmers have finished seeding and are preparing for spraying. Others have lots of seed to put in […] Read more
Farmers urged to heed grain sensor readings
On March 14, the recorded temperature of peas in this Saskatchewan hopper bottom bin was -8 C. By May 9, just 54 days later, the Bin-Sense readout had escalated to 48 C. That’s a jump of 56 C in just 54 days. The yellow peas went into the bin at 14 percent moisture and 9 […] Read more
Specialty grain gear makes clean routine
Many seed- and grain-processing plants recently built in Western Canada, including pea fractionation facilities, use equipment from Saskatoon-based Can-Seed Equipment. Several of the company’s offerings wouldn’t suit the grain-handling needs of the typical prairie grain farm. However, some of the equipment can fill important roles on grain farms. For instance, Forsberg’s natural frequency conveyors offer […] Read more
Key things that reduce a farm’s risk and potentially insurance premiums
If you are thinking of reducing your insurance costs on the farm, approach it the way an insurer would. Reduce your risk. Farms are filled with many perils. Weather, accidents and theft are all waiting in the wings to take centre stage on any farm. In some cases they might steal the show forever. “What […] Read more
Dome on the range: oblate ellipses efficient
Buildings in the round can deliver lower operating costs and reduce risk to perils from weather and fire
Domes are all backward. The insulation is on the outside, the concrete is inside. The forms stay in place forever. Dome buildings are an example where form is functional. “The look of the dome is different. But so are the benefits,” said Andrew Trapp of Canadian Dome Industries in Saskatoon. Virtually fire and weather proof, […] Read more
