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Getting Wheat Bins Ready

Wheat fields are just starting to turn and one can see that the heads are no longer green. Combines can be seen in farm yards with all the panels open looking all the while like a big bird readying for takeoff. Yes, getting the combine ready is necessary but equally important is making sure your storage bins are ready for the new crop of wheat. We talk about this every year and then months down the road we deal with storage problems that in some cases are as a result of poor or inadequate bin preparation.

When you unload the bin in preparation for receiving wheat, it's only part of the job. Congratulations on getting the bin empty by the end of June. If the next thing you do is put wheat in the bin you missed a critical part of a good storage protocol. You need to get the bin ready for the wheat, which with any luck will happen in July. This means getting the inside of the bin as clean as possible.

First Golden Rule of Grain Storage - Never put new grain on top of old grain!

Housekeeping

Clean up any spilled grain around the bin and receiving or dump pits. This grain may harbour insect pests that would like nothing better than a whole bin full of yummy food. This spilled grain should be disposed of well away from your grain handling system. Control weeds around your bins to eliminate any spots where insects could hide. The inside of your bin should be completely cleaned out. This is more than just sweeping out the bin. Blow down the walls with compressed air getting behind any wall stiffeners then sweep and vacuum out the bin.

Second Golden Rule of Grain Storage - Wear an N95 or N99 dust mask when handling grain to protect yourself from fine dust and mould spores!

Every year we talk about cleaning out under the aeration floor but honestly, less than 1% of farmers do it. Grain, fines and stored grain pests can fall through the aeration floor. Over time, this material can buildup and with older style floors buildup to a level that airflow is restricted. This past winter, in Eastern Ontario I learned about blow-out doors. These doors are installed in the skirt of the bin and you use the aeration fan to blow loose material from the plenum. We really need to get that technology down here to southern Ontario.

Empty Bin Treatment

After cleaning out your bin, use diatomaceous earth to get rid of any storage pests remaining inside the bin. This product is available from your local crop inputs suppliers under the brand name "Protect-It". The diatomaceous earth will kill any bugs left in the bin or under the floor. As the insects come in contact with this abrasive fine powder their waxy coating is scratched, they desiccate and then die. This is a quick, low-cost, do-it-yourself method of treating an empty bin that takes about 30 seconds. Don't forget to wear a dust mask. You toss the prescribed amount of diatomaceous earth into the running fan and turn it off when you see the white powder coming out the eaves and vents. It's that easy. Do not run the fan in an empty bin since this may float the floor and knock over some floor supports causing structural problems when grain is added. Once the floor is mostly covered with grain, you can safely run the fan.

Third Golden Rule of Grain Storage - Never run the fan in an empty bin if it will lift the floor!

Figure 1. Use Compressed air or a broom to clean bin walls.
Don't forget to clean out the unloading basket.

Preventative Maintenance Checklist

• check for water leaks, in the roof, around vents and hatches, around wall penetrations and where the bin wall meets the concrete floor
• check that inner door panels close and latch properly
• check that the roof hatch closes and latches properly
• check that slide gates on the unloading basket(s) operate smoothly and close completely
• check that the slide gate is tightly connected to the slide handle
• check that the auger tube is tightly connected to the unloading basket
• check caulking between the wall stiffeners and the aeration floor
• check electrical control boxes and evict all rodents
• service the fan motor as outlined by the manufacturer
• run the unloading auger to see that it works and unload any rodent nests
• replace worn belts on the unloading auger(s)

Investing time now to fully prep the bins before wheat harvest means you are good and ready. Do it now. Don't wait until next month. Preventative maintenance is always easier when you are not rushed and the bin is empty not half-filled or completely full.