Storedgrain App

Stored Grain App Icon

The GRDC storedgrain app is now available from the Apple App Store or Google Play

Download now from the Apple App Store or Google Play or access your grain storage records on the web portal synchronized to your app A key feature is the ability to record grain Storage Details and Monitoring Records at the storage site regardless of mobile reception or data speed. Simply enter the records you wish to keep and next time you’re back in mobile reception range, records can be synchronised between multiple mobile devices and/or exported to excel. Record storage details such as grain type, variety, grade, quantity, paddock/source, date filled, date emptied and who it was sold to for your own records and quality assurance tracking. Each time a storage is monitored the app allows you to record the date, temperature, moisture content, pests identified, treatment details and any other notes. How to guides and videos on pest identification, silo buying, fumigation, hygiene and structural treatments, aeration cooling and aeration drying are all included in the app. If you still need more information, use the direct links to Ask an expert and have your grain storage questions answered. Click here for help with the storedgrain app

The GRDC have made the strategic decision to close the storedgrain mobile app permanently.

With limited uptake and use of the storedgrain app, it’s not economical for the GRDC to continue investing in its maintenance and development. Production and supply chain traceability has also been identified as a limitation of a standalone grain storage app.

The GRDC’s Grain Storage Extension Team will encourage and support the commercial, crop production software providers to develop grain storage capability into their platforms, so grain in storage can be traced back to the paddock and treatments applied during production.

We trust you support the strategy driving this decision and together we look forward to the opportunities it will provide to streamline and simplify production and storage recording.

Successful Storage in Grain Bags

Stored Grain Storage Bags

Bulk grain bags, also known as Silo Bags, can be a handy harvest storage option if used properly. A planned approach with careful management is essential.

KEY POINTS

  • Grain bags are best suited for short-term, high-volume grains to assist with harvest logistics.
  • Site planning and preparation is the first and most important step for successful storage.
  • Bulk grain bags are a higher risk form of storage compared with silos — requiring experience and best management practice.
  • Inspecting grain bags weekly, or more frequently, and patching holes will reduce the chance of spoilt grain from moisture or pests.

Bulk grain bags are best used for short-term storage (a few months maximum) to support harvest logistics.

Storing grain for longer periods requires:

  • Prior experience
  • A carefully prepared site
  • A method of sampling grain for quality monitoring
  • Regular inspections.

The capacity of grain bags varies with bag size, which generally ranges from 40 to 90 metres long, and anywhere from 100 to 300 tonnes depending on the type of grain and how much the bag is stretched during filling.

The material most commonly used for grain bags is a three-layer polyethylene — two white layers to protect against the ultraviolet rays and reflect heat and a black inner layer to block light.

Which grains?

Due to their short-term storage capacity and suitability for supporting harvest pressure, growers tend to use grain bags primarily for extending existing storage during high-yielding seasons of typically wheat, barley and sorghum.

Aeration cooling is not yet proven with grain bags. Storing canola or high-value legumes is not recommended.

Cereal grain quality is best preserved when the moisture content is below 12.5 per cent. Storing grain at higher moisture content in bags not only compromises grain quality but increases the risk of grain swelling and splitting the bag.

Being unable to aerate bags and having a large surface area exposed to heating from the sun means grain remains warm for months after harvest. This can affect seed germination rates and malt barley quality.

Storing grain at harvest temperatures of 30°C and above favours high insect reproduction rates, so take extra care with hygiene and monitoring.

Bulk grain bags are an effective form of storage when used in the right situations and when they are managed correctly.

Buying grain bags

  • Test bag quality by pushing your thumb through an edge of the bag — you will be able to make a subjective judgement as to whether it is high or poor quality. Test different brands before you buy.
  • Ensure the bag is UV stable for 12 months and complies with the ISO 9001 quality management system.
  • Make sure the bag has stretch indicators for accurate filling.
  • Ensure the grain bag is designed for grain not silage — different bags look similar and can be confused leading to disastrous results.

Testing and Guage

Choosing a site

  • Appropriate site selection is the first and most fundamental step in successful grain bag management.
  • Placing bags in different paddocks makes filling direct from the harvester or chaser bin easier but increases maintenance and monitoring time. This can compromise grain quality.
  • Bags located in individual paddocks can be challenging in wet weather.
  • A central, common storage site for bags is ideal for easier site preparation, monitoring, bag maintenance, vermin control and out-loading.
  • Select a hard, smooth, elevated site with a gentle slope where water can drain away.
  • Allow plenty of room around the grain bags for machinery access and trucks to turn around.
What a site: The ideal site for grain bags should be accessible even when wet. It should be clear of sharp objects and firmly-rolled so water can drain away freely.
What a site: The ideal site for grain bags should be accessible even when wet. It should be clear of sharp objects and firmly-rolled so water can drain away freely.

Preparing the site

  • Grade and roll the site, removing sticks, rocks or sharp objects.
  • Clear, firm ground makes operating the filling and emptying machines easier with less chance of brakes skidding.
  • A firmly-rolled site helps drainage and prevents water pooling where the grain bag has sunken into soft ground.
  • Anything that can puncture the bag is a threat and must be removed. Set up the site away from rocks, sticks, trees (they drop branches and harbour birds) and away from sand hills or long grass where rabbits, mice and foxes shelter.
  • Anecdotally, a thin sprinkle of urea can be spread on the ground where the bag is to be laid to deter mice from burrowing under it.

Setting up the filling machine

The most common filling machines are power take-off (PTO) driven, forcing grain into the bag, stretching it by about 10 per cent as it’s laid. A more recent development is the gravity filling design, which requires no power or tractor to operate and relies purely on gravity to fill and stretch the bag.

Make sure the machine is clean before filling the bags.

Grain pests, such as weevils and other insects, can survive in small amounts of grain left in equipment from the previous season. If the machine is not clean, these pests can infest the new season’s grain and will multiply and spread through the entire grain bag

Fitting the bag onto the machine with two people saves time and reduces the chance of injury. When setting up the bag on the filling machine, ensure the stretch markers are on a side where they can be seen and measured when the bag is filling. Once filled, any holes in the bag will allow grain to absorb moisture from the ground.

Options include:

  • sealing the ends of the grain bag with a heat sealer, or
  • clamping the ends between two lengths of timber or steel, rolling each end around the timber then tucking the bag under itself with about a metre overlap.

The squarer the starting end of the bag, the easier it is to empty with less shovelling — a cable tie around the end is NOT a good idea.

Before filling the bag, use a string line to mark a straight path along the full length of the bag. A straight bag is a lot easier to empty than a curved bag.

Fill-her-up thanks: Grain bags can be filled straight from the harvester, or from a truck with a short auger and hopper system, but the most convenient is filling from a chaser or mother bin.
Fill-her-up thanks: Grain bags can be filled straight from the harvester, or from a truck with a short auger and hopper system, but the most convenient is filling from a chaser or mother bin.

Filling the bag

Patience and accuracy during filling will make emptying the bag much easier, reduce maintenance on the bag during the storage period and result in less spills and fewer stops to realign machinery.

  • Keep the bag filling evenly and straight to avoid creases — mice tend to attack creases.
  • Adjust the brakes and direction often and in small increments.
  • Avoid over-filling (over-stretching) the bag as extra strain makes it more prone to holes, splits and tears.
  • Remember, the polyethylene bags will stretch more easily when filled with warm grain on hot days.
  • Bags can be filled straight from the harvester, but operators may be tempted to rush, which leads to a poor job and increases the risk of an accident. (ie damage to machinery or operators).
  • Stop filling the bag while there is still plenty of bag to seal and re-attach to the emptying machine — about four metres is a good rule of thumb.
  • As with the starting end, heat seal or clamp the bag end to keep moisture out, then tuck the excess bag under itself and cover with soil to stop it flapping in the wind.

Barrier of Defense

Site security and maintenance

Site security starts with hygiene. Cleaning the site after filling will not only remove harbours for grain insects, it will remove feed that attracts mice and wildlife. After cleaning up around the site, establish mice baiting stations along the length of each bag and put up signs to warn people of the poison.

Keep the site free of grass by spraying it regularly to remove cover for mice and wildlife. A sturdy fence, even an electric fence, around the bags can help prevent animals accessing the bags and chewing or walking on them. Even if there are no livestock in the paddock, remember there is always the potential for stray livestock or wild animals to cause a lot of damage in a short time.

Checking as often as twice daily may be required if vermin are plentiful during wet weather. During normal conditions check at least weekly. Patch any tears or punctures with quality tape or silicone to prevent moisture entering the grain bulk.

Wet weather warning: Grain bags can be emptied straight into a truck but if the paddock is wet, grain will have to be transferred from the bag to the truck with a chaser bin.
Wet weather warning: Grain bags can be emptied straight into a truck but if the paddock is wet, grain will have to be transferred from the bag to the truck with a chaser bin.

Emptying the bag

When making the initial cut in the bag for out-loading, place a piece of tape horizontally across the bag below where it is stretched tight at the top. Make the first cut perpendicular to the bag just below the tape. Do not make the cut parallel to the bag as there is potential for it to split up the entire length of the bag, exposing the grain and making it difficult to pick up.

As previously stated for filling the bag, frequent, small adjustments to align the machine and roller speeds are better than large adjustments. When the bag is almost empty and there’s not much weight left in it, the unloading machine may drag the bag towards itself. This can cause tears from the ground or from over stretching. To prevent this, drive the tractor slowly backwards as the last bit of the bag is emptied.

Clean up

Clean grain residues from machinery used for grain handling to prevent reinfestation with insect pests next season. Structural treatments are a wise addition to a thorough clean down.

An inert dust such as diatomaceous earth (DE), can be blown into the machinery to prevent insects harbouring during the off season.

Site clean-up is vital for success. Spilt piles of grain and leftover small bags of grain provide an ideal harbour for insects to live and breed.

Safety around grain bags

Filling and emptying grain bags poses a number of safety hazards, exacerbated by the fact that during harvest people are usually tired and in a hurry. Always follow machinery manufacturer instructions and consult your State occupational health and safety authority for advice.

  • Treat all operating machinery with respect — keep a distance from machines and always have room to take a step away if needed.
  • Think before you make any adjustments or movements on machinery.
  • Ensure anyone on-site is standing clear of the filling machine and tractor before adjusting the brakes as it can lurch forward at any time. Making small adjustments reduces the risk of the machine lurching.

Vigilant Monitoring Protects Grain Assets

Stored Grain avoid surprises

When grain enters storage it needs monitoring, just as a crop does throughout the growing season.

Regular monitoring means problems are detected early and can be managed before significant grain damage occurs. It also avoids surprises at out-loading, prevents costly rejections from grain buyers and maintains your reputation for supplying quality grain.

KEY POINTS

  • Regular monitoring allows early action to be taken if insects or grain quality issues arise.
  • Failure to monitor grain not only increases the risk of damage and loss but can delay delivery if an issue is first identified at out-loading.
  • Monitor grain temperature and moisture content and check for insect pests.
  • Testing grain retained for seed after harvest helps plan for the following season.

Segregating grain

Monitoring starts at harvest — knowing grain condition and grade as it comes off the paddock determines the appropriate storage conditions.

  • High-moisture grain requires drying or blending.
  • Warm grain requires cooling.
  • Variable quality grain will benefit from segregation.

Avoid surprisesWhen the grade is known (test at a registered receival site) ask what parameter(s) it’s close to for being downgraded or upgraded. It may be something that can be tested for and managed on farm, such as protein, screenings or test weight.

Having this information on hand at harvest can support segregating grain as it comes off helping it to stay within the grade. Alternatively, blending grain from lower-grade areas of the paddock with that from higher grade areas may improve the overall grade.

In some cases, insect pests can come from machinery, so check grain on the way into storage so it can be treated or fumigated. Note: contact pesticides are not an option in Western Australia.

 

Monitor regularly

When in storage, grain is vulnerable to quality loss. Poor management can see grain come out of storage in an unsaleable condition. Monitor grain so problems can be addressed early before they cause significant damage. Dealing with an issue earlier rather than later is easier and more cost effective.

Check stored grain at least once a month during the cooler months and fortnightly during warmer months. Collect samples from the bottom of storage and, if safe, at the top.

In warm conditions (>30ºC) many grain pests can complete their life cycle in as little as 3–4 weeks causing significant damage.

When monitoring stored grain check:

  • For insect pests
  • Grain temperature
  • Grain moisture content
  • Grain quality and germination

 

Sampling stored grain

Probe traps

Collect samples from the areas where insects and mould are most likely to establish first. These areas are generally around openings — hatches, doors, aeration fan inlets, filling and emptying points.

The most common place for insects and mould in a silo is at the top, just below the surface of the peak of grain (see Figure 1). This is because it’s the last place aeration cooling or drying reaches, it’s exposed to the sun heating the headspace, condensation from the headspace and provides easy access for insects through the top lid, inspection hole or vents.

Always follow occupational health and safety guidelines and only climb to the top of a storage if it’s safe to do so.

Always collect samples from beneath the grain surface. At the bottom of a silo this means opening an outlet to run a small amount of grain out. A sampling probe is ideal for collecting grain from the top of a silo, but it’s often impractical or unsafe to climb up a silo with a sampling probe.

Common problem areas in grain stores

Checking for insects

Grain pests can be difficult to find because they are small, fast moving and some prefer the dark while others can be seen on the surface. There are numerous ways to detect them.

Tie the trap to something inside the storage so it doesn’t get lost or forgotten about before out-loading. Position the trap so a small amount is protruding out the top of the grain to capture insects crawling across the surface as well as those hiding beneath.

Temperature

Monitoring grain temperature is not only required to manage aeration, it can indicate potential mould or insect activity in the grain stack.
Insect activity generates heat, which provides favourable conditions for mould. When checking grain temperature, go beneath the surface, measuring in the same spot each time. Record test results to identify any temperature spikes, which will prompt further investigation.

Revealing the pest

Grain moisture

Grain moisture content influences mould and insect activity (see Figure 2). Identifying a change in moisture can reveal an issue before it causes significant damage. For example, an increase in grain moisture at the top of a storage could be a result of a leak, condensation or problem with aeration management.

Seed germination and vigour

EFFECTS OF Temperature and moisture on stored grain

Storing grain at the optimum temperature and moisture content as shown in Figure 2 not only reduces the risk of mould and insects, it maintains grain quality and germination.

CSIRO research reveals how moisture content and temperature affect the rate at which seed germination declines. A trial was carried out with premium quality wheat at 12 per cent moisture content and an initial seed viability of 100 per cent, stored for 150 days.

Storing at 20°C decreased the seed viability by only 1 per cent but storing at 30°C decreased viability by 21 per cent over the 150 days. Reduced germination rates result from a breakdown of grain cellular structure and function, with related changes in chemical composition and modification to enzyme and other bio-chemical systems.

Stored grain deteriorates with time under any conditions, but poor storage conditions (high grain temperature and moisture) accelerate the deterioration process markedly.

Deep temp testing Multimeter temperature test Moisture monitoring

Testing germination rates on retained seed

If retaining grain for seed, a germination test and seed count test performed a month after harvest can help guide how much seed needs to be kept to achieve acceptable paddock plant populations.

If the germination test at this stage is poor, it might pay to buy in seed. If germination is satisfactory, use that to guide how much extra seed to keep, adding an allowance for all the other factors that will reduce germination and seed establishment.

Factors influencing how much seed needs to be retained for sowing include:

  • Germination rate tested at harvest.
  • Further decline in germination between harvest and sowing.
  • Screenings, foreign and small seeds lost at cleaning.
  • Allowance for seeds that germinate but don’t emerge.
  • Seed weight (grams per 1000 seeds).
  • Buffer to allow for change of plans in planting area.

Simple seed germination test

Before sowing, carry out another germination test to check for decline in germination rates during storage.

CSIRO research shows this decline can be around 21 per cent if grain is not stored in ideal conditions.  A decline of more than 10 per cent in germination rate from harvest to sowing should prompt action to improve the storage conditions or management in future years.
Grain temperature has one of the largest influences on seed germination and vigor. Monitor temperature regularly and ensure sound aeration management.