FARMERS KNOW THAT grain dries quickly in the field on a hot or windy fall day. So why not duplicate the process in a grain bin? I call this process Fast Dry.

Over the years, aeration systems have helped get crops off in good condition. In the early 1980s, farmers installed 12-inch and 18-inch aeration tubes in bins to handle grain at 18 percent moisture. It worked for the conditions at that time.

But today, farms, combines and bins are much bigger. This raises more questions for producers. "Why doesn't my oId natural air system work fast enough? Why does it work one year but not the next? How can I speed up the process and design my present bins and future bins to reduce drying costs? If I design it right, can I save the cost of a dryer that I may not even need?"  Click on the title to see the complete article.

EACH YEAR ACROSS THE PRAIRIES, more capital investment goes into on-farm grain handling and drying. In today's world, the grain bin performs more than one function - it's more than just storage. The bin needs to be an effective grain handling system, able to dry and condition grain on a regular basis.

In my 20 years experience in this field, I see common errors in building new or upgrading existing systems. Avoid these mistakes now and your investment will pay off better in today's economy and help you turn a better profit in years to come.  Click on the title to see the complete article.