Harvest storage and grain quality
Bringing the crop safely in without losing value
Harvesting is the culmination of the entire growing season but the work does not stop when the grain is in the tank. A good yield can quickly lose value if the crop is harvested at the wrong time or stored poorly. Therefore harvesting drying and storage are a profession in themselves.
§Maturity and harvest time
The crop must be mature before it is harvested. For grain, this means, among other things, that the water content of the kernels has fallen sufficiently. If harvested too early, the water content is high and the grain must be dried a lot; if harvested too late, the risk of losses, lodging and quality loss increases. Weather plays a major role, and the harvest window can be short, so machinery and storage must be ready in time.
§The actual harvest
Grain is harvested with combines that cut the crop, thresh kernels from the ear and separate grain from straw and husks. Correct combine adjustment is important to avoid waste and broken kernels. Straw can either be cut and spread as a soil additive or pressed into bales for bedding and feed.
§Drying and safe storage
If grain is to be stored the water content must be low enough that it does not start to heat mold or sprout. Wet grain is dried with drying equipment and storage temperature is monitored. A clean dry storage without pests and moisture is a prerequisite for quality to be preserved until sale or use.
- 01Clean store and silos before storage to avoid infection from old grain.
- 02Keep an eye on the temperature — rising temperature is a warning sign.
- 03Protect against moisture birds and rodents.
- 04Keep batches separate according to quality and use.
§Quality parameters
The crop's value depends on its quality. For grain, among other things, water content, purity, bulk weight and — depending on use — protein and germination rate are assessed. Bread wheat, malting barley and feed grain have different requirements. Upon delivery, the lot is often assessed and settled based on these parameters, so it pays to know your crop's quality.