Top tips to getting your shed for this year's harvest season

Why is proper cereal storage so critical for farmers?

Primarily, it’s a food safety issue. Proper storage protects against mycotoxins and keeps birds and rodents away, which helps prevent nasty diseases like E. coli.

It also helps prevent contaminants like broken glass or flooring from getting into the crop. Since 95% of Scotland’s grain is SQC scheme assured, our stores are regularly inspected to ensure they are compliant. The key part of storage is to keep crops cool and dry.

Technical Note:

Mycotoxins are highly toxic compounds produced by certain fungi and they can build up rapidly in crops if not properly stored. Maintaining grain at a moisture content below 13% and at a temperature that discourages fungal growth is critical for preventing mycotoxin contamination.

What are the key factors to consider when building a new cereal storage facility?

The first thing to consider is the required size, the number of bays if you need to keep crops and varieties separated, and if ducting is needed to keep crops cool and dry.

Modern stores with raised floors to allow air circulation through the stored grain make a big difference. It is also important to consider human safety, ensuring that people can access the store for sampling without sinking into the grain.

In very hot years, will you be able to spread grain out for cooling?

Unless processing the grain, it can take months to cool if kept on the farm. It is becoming more common for farms to invest in shared storage facilities so remember that all of the grain going into the store needs to be assured for the bulk lot still to be certified.

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Grain Store Ref: RH040724245 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

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Technical Note:

Raised floors and proper ducting systems enhance aeration which is essential for maintaining grain quality by controlling temperature and moisture levels.

What are the common diseases that can affect stored cereals, and how can they be prevented?

Common diseases include E. coli from animal faeces if rodents and birds are prevalent.

The main spoiling pathogen is Penicillium, which produces mycotoxins when grain is left in hot and damp conditions. This is why it’s crucial to keep grain dry at below 13% moisture.

Moisture content is far more important (and easier to manage) than temperature as a parameter and at 13% moisture, even temperatures of 25°C, are OK.

But if moisture content has crept up to 15.5% then grain would need to be held at just 5°C to be safe.

If temperatures are high at harvest then it is even more important to keep grain down to 13%.

If cooling is possible then farmers should avoid keeping grain too cold (below 5°C) if aiming for the malting market, as this can make the grain dormant and affect germination.

Technical Note:

Penicillium can grow on pockets of higher moisture content grain, such as can be caused by insect infestations.

It produces mycotoxins which are very harmful to both human and animal health.

Regular monitoring and maintaining optimal storage conditions are vital.

What are the most effective methods for monitoring and maintaining the condition of stored cereals?

The most critical thing is to keep testing the grain, ideally every week, so any concerns can be caught in good time. Samples should be taken not just from around the edges but also from deeper into the pile to ensure even measurement.

It is also essential to get your moisture meter calibrated before harvest.

This can be done through a grain merchant who has store samples at a set moisture level for more accurate testing.

If a moisture meter is out by 1% or 2%, it can mean the difference between safely stored crops or hundreds of tonnes being ruined with mould.

Technical Note:

Regular calibration of moisture meters ensures accurate readings, which are crucial for maintaining grain quality during storage.

How can farmers ensure their storage facilities are pest-free?

There are larger pests like mice, rats, pigeons and crows so blocking up areas of easy ingress is important.

Ensure bait traps are well stocked in the weeks before harvest and a pest control plan is deployed. Smaller pests like mites and weevils also need to be tackled. Set insect traps to detect any issues.

If significant numbers are discovered, further cleaning of the store may be required.

Thoroughly clean all stores before harvest by brushing and vacuuming, and inspect floors for any cracks which could harbour pests.

Ancillary equipment like dryers and fans should be treated as an extension of the grain store in terms of cleaning to reduce the risk of infestation. Ensure that if the storage shed has been used for livestock or other purposes, it has been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.

Technical Note:

Integrated pest management (IPM) approaches including preventive measures and regular monitoring are effective in keeping storage facilities pest-free.

What other preparation should happen before harvest?

It’s a good idea to have a crop handling plan.

If you are growing a number of different crops and varieties, plan where the crops will be kept, either temporarily or long-term.

Plan for a bumper but wet harvest and ensure you have the capacity to handle the grain through the drier if needed.

Keeping varieties and crops separate can be challenging during a busy harvest, but if cleaning an extra shed during a quieter week is possible, the increased capacity will be welcome when it is all hands on deck later in the year.

As you begin to move grain off farm, with each load keep a note of the grain stock (mass balance) you have left.

Technical Note:

Proper pre-harvest planning, including cleaning and organising storage facilities, ensures efficient handling and storage of crops, preventing cross-contamination and quality loss.