Tips to Check your Grain Bins to Reduce Loss

Grains are the fruit of agriculture that needs to be checked to reduce losses and increase productivity. Regularly checking the quality of grains will protect them from insects and increase the output with reduced losses and procure the economic status of the country. 

The following tips can be followed to protect your grains from damage: 

1. Inspect your bins: 

Do you have any missing bolts, damaged sheets, or sidewall bulges? Pay particular attention to bolted joints, looking for any irregularities that could be a sign of stress. 

2. Level your foundation 

The proper foundation should be there to protect the grain from entry points for water, insects, or rodents, and can allow forced air to escape, reducing the efficiency of your operation. 

3. Cleaning bins at proper intervals 

Get rid of all old grain, remove all rust, and cover the structure with rust-inhibiting primer or paint. 

4. Oiling and greasing motor bearings at proper time intervals 

Make sure to grease your bin parts properly in order to function normally. The fans should be in working condition to supply proper aeration to grains. 

5. Make sure all attachments are functioning normally 

Avoiding the above can bring contamination to your grain leading to spoiled grains with molds and other contaminations. 

6. Inspect from the rooftop till the bottom 

The ceiling of the bins should not leak as it may cause rust in the containers that will create a toxic environment not healthy for grain storage.  If yes, gather up some caulk, new bolts, a wire brush, some paint, and fix up your bins. 

7. Check your Anchor bolts 

Bolts on the foundation should be in good condition and tightened. Cracks can make your bins susceptible to wind damage. 

8. Aeration points should be cleaned at intervals

Be sure to get under the aeration floors and inside the aeration tubes. Remove any debris, and keep an eye out for insect infestations. 

9. Sweep auger needs to be checked

Check oil levels in the seals and gearbox. Notice the condition of the belts and chain tension. Look at all bearings on the flighting. Also, make sure that the flighting isn’t too thin. All shields should be in good condition. The sweep auger needs to be properly placed in front of the intermediate sumps. 

10.  Check the doors properly

Proper installation of doors and any loose points should be checked. 

11.  Electrical points should be checked

Last but not least is to check the electrical points which should be inspected for any loose or open wiring.      

12. Corrosion of fans, heaters, and ducts needs to be checked

Dust should be avoided which is the root cause of choking all electrical equipment like a fan, heaters, etc.