In-bin and dedicated grain dryer systems have different capabilities, according to an Alberta research study.

How to choose between an in-bin or dedicated grain drying system

It all depends on your objectives, expert says

With short seasons and what seems like increasingly unpredictable weather patterns these days, many growers now routinely using grain drying systems to add a little time to the harvest window. But for those considering an investment in a grain drying system, how do you choose which one is right for your farm? Producers can opt […] Read more


Sudden shifts from springlike temperatures to bone-chilling cold this winter called for a check on your stored grain, Anne Kirk says.

Avoid grain spoilage when temperatures get wild

Consider your bins when the weather swings from extreme cold to unseasonably warm

Glacier FarmMedia — With unusually high temperatures interrupted by two deep freezes, it’s been a challenging winter for grain storage on the Prairies, requiring diligence to protect stored crop. Anne Kirk, cereal crop specialist with Manitoba Agriculture, advises aeration and vigilant monitoring of bin moisture and temperature. The latter is particularly important when outside temperatures […] Read more

samples of durum wheat in jars on shelves

Shedding new light on spoiling crops

A few pages from now you’ll see Jim Timlick check in on the topic of grain storage with Dr. Digvir Jayas, one of the Prairies’ best known experts in that field of research. Earlier this summer Dr. Jayas was named the president of the University of Lethbridge, after a storied 38-year stint at the University […] Read more


horizontal image of five round steel grain bins sitting in a yellow canola field under a very cloudy sky in the summer

On-farm storage and canola grain quality

Control what you can, and take steps to manage the rest

When it comes to your on-farm storage and maintaining canola grain quality, there are some elements you can control — and others you can’t. One area you can influence is the original condition of the canola seed going into your bins. Swathing at the correct stage or straight-cutting will help minimize many of the quality […] Read more

VIDEO: A 3D view of the grain inside your bin to help prevent spoilage

VIDEO: A 3D view of the grain inside your bin to help prevent spoilage

Inventors' Showcase entrant at Manitoba Ag Days showcased serious technology to help spot spoilage before it occurs

Have you ever been sitting at home wondering what’s going on with the moisture content inside your grain bin? Well, wonder no more. Using spectral imaging technology – similar to that of an MRI or CT scan – GrainViz creates a 3D moisture map of the grain inside your bin that you can view via […] Read more


Jitendra Paliwal (left) adjusts the antennae on the 3D electromagnetic imaging system at the U of M’s grain storage research laboratory while Paul Card (right) watches.

Detecting grain spoilage in the bin before it starts

An adaptation of cancer-screening technology offers a better and safer way to check for grain bin moisture, with a bonus of theft detection

An electromagnetic imaging technique originally designed to detect breast cancer tumours is now being adapted for a totally different use — locating spoiled grain in bins. The research project at the University of Manitoba uses electromagnetic imaging (EMI) to create a 3D profile of a bin, showing pockets of moisture which can overheat and spoil. […] Read more

In the summer, farmers can be so busy that they leave wheat in the bins too long or fail to check it regularly.

Grain in the bin still needs your attention

Once the crop is in the bin, it still needs attention and careful management

Success with wheat crops has much in common with being a good parent: You can do everything else to raise them right, but if you spoil them it’s all for naught. “Wheat needs to be managed in storage or you risk a huge loss of revenue,” said Dr. Joy Agnew, Project Manager — Agricultural Research […] Read more