Five Grain System Areas to Review After Harvest
A GSI grain conditioning specialist recommends evaluating storage space, bin location, drying capability, grain-moving equipment, monitoring tools, and safety features after harvest. He advises planning drying capacity for at least five years and matching dryer type to bin size. The review can help farmers decide whether upgrades are needed before the next season.
A GSI grain conditioning specialist, Randy Sheley, suggests growers assess whether their storage can handle both present and future volumes, noting that bottlenecks can signal missed income. He also says bin sites should have reliable road access, utility connections and room for expansion.
For drying, Sheley advises sizing capacity for at least five years, allowing for higher yields or more acres. He says dryers should fit the operation: large bins above 50,000 bushels are better served by dry-cool or tower systems than full-heat dryers. Handling equipment, monitoring tools and safety upgrades also merit review.
Post-harvest reviews like this could help farmers reduce spoilage and improve grain quality, which may support more stable food supplies. Producers with bottlenecks might invest in storage, drying, handling, monitoring or safety upgrades, potentially lowering entrapment risks and financial losses. Equipment makers and rural service providers could see demand shift toward automation and higher-capacity systems. Effects may vary by farm size and region.