Once dry, grain must be cooled rapidly by blowing cooler ambient air through the warmer grain bulk using vertical or horizontal ducts. Cooling to below 12°C (10°C for rapeseed) will prevent insects from breeding. Aim for less than 15°C within two weeks and less than 10°C by Christmas. When combined with correct drying, cooling will help minimise the risk of mycotoxin development and will help maintain germinative capacity of malting barley. Airflow, air volume and timings must all be carefully managed.
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TS53 |
Vertical ventilation for cooling grain (2001) Straightforward tips for optimum spacing and sucking or blowing strategies for vertical ventilation systems used for cooling grain |
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TS60 |
Ensuring good germination in malting barley (2002) Examines the causes of poor germination and describes drying, cooling and storage conditions to ensure good germination of malting barley |
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TS62 |
Preventing and controlling mites in stored cereals (2002) Guidance on cost-effective approaches to avoiding mite infestation in cereals covering drying, cooling, monitoring, pesticide application and use of diatomaceous earth |
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TS78 |
Drying and cooling grain: an update (2004) A summary of drying and cooling requirements to ensure that grain can be stored safely with minimum risk of mycotoxin (Ochratoxin A), pests and loss of germinative capacity |
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Safe Storage Time Calculator (2006) For a safe storage risk assessment, use this straightforward spreadsheet immediately after harvest to record moisture and temperature as you dry/cool your grain |
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BulkDry, BulkDryRape and Bulk cool (2009) Interactive simulation programmes for near ambient grain and oilseed drying and cooling. Using local weather data, explore different scenarios to achieve safe and cost-effective drying. |
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Focus on differential thermostats (2008) Climate change series: Case study 21 Focus on differential thermostats in grain store |
The information in this module was originally developed for the series of HGCA/ACCS Mycotoxin and Grain Storage Workshops in 2008.
Cost effective cooling
Cooling your grain quickly and cost-effectively to maintain quality
Award-winning young farmer at HGCA conference
On-farm management of nitrogen for milling wheat will be tackled by award-winning young farmer James Price at this year's HGCA/nabim Milling Wheat Conference on 25 February.