Building an arable farm yard from scratch

[Timothy Heston-Baler]

Evening,

I’m looking at the possibility of building a new farmyard making everything centralised and more efficient than we currently have with stores spread across three farms and machinery stored everywhere, it would also allow for building a workshop we can actually fit kit inside.
Two main questions, anyone who’s built grain storage lately what’s the most cost efficient way to build a grain store, eventually would need around 5000t of storage with the ability to split 5/6 ways for variety and cropping differences. Thinking half concrete half drying floors. Are there any renewable options for running floor driers?
Secondly if you could build from scratch what you build that you wish you had but don’t currently?

 

[betweenthelines]

But you'll have to draw grain further at harvest time.

 

[Timothy Heston-Baler]

True, though I’d say that it’s cheaper to run an extra man, tractor and trailer for a day or two than the countless lost time waiting for lorries and travelling between farms. Even though they aren’t a million miles apart.

 

[Tractor Tim]

Saw an article on some one drying grain with a straw fired boiler looked a good idea to me just make everything with enough room for expansion if needs be

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Dry all our grain using biomass, it’s been pretty much 24/7 since second week of september. Pm me if you want more info.

also putting up one, possibly 2 stores this year so keen to see how you get on with research!

 

[Hard Graft]

Same as thinking off putting in a new Boimass boiler for the house and using it for grain drying as well but only need a 500t storage but split 5 ways and wood chip storage

 

[Barleycorn]

Sadly wouldn't have thought returns from arable (or any) farming would pay for much of a stack yard now.

 

[l'ordinary bonville]

Is it cheaper to build on floor storage than have something like 5 silos holding 1000t each?I know sheds have more uses but we find that the stores are no good for machinery in the winter months when you really need the protection from the weather As they are full of grain.
In the US everyone seems to have only silos.

 

[Timothy Heston-Baler]

Is it cheaper to build on floor storage than have something like 5 silos holding 1000t each?I know sheds have more uses but we find that the stores are no good for machinery in the winter months when you really need the protection from the weather As they are full of grain.
In the US everyone seems to have only silos.

To be honest I’ve never had a proper quote but looking on here on the past I don’t think there’s an awful lot of difference initially per tonne, plus you’ve got to get the grain in and out of them, I’ve got a fairly decent continuous drier set up at the moment which is about 20 years old, great for shifting grain easily but the maintenance on it now is too expensive and time consuming.

 

[Timothy Heston-Baler]

Sadly wouldn't have thought returns from arable (or any) farming would pay for much of a stack yard now.

Unless you rent out all the old sheds

 

[Birchfarmer]

Sadly wouldn't have thought returns from arable (or any) farming would pay for much of a stack yard now.

I put up a grain store 5 years ago for wheat ( greenfield site)
3 out of 4 years paid dividends compared to harvest movement ( first three years extra margin paid for the shed)
no regrets compared to old inefficient building.
Also labour saving filling in the busy period of harvest too.
6 miles from where I live, half my land by the store, only downside if any is I had to buy a second telehandler !

 

[Doing it for the kids]

I put up a grain store 5 years ago for wheat ( greenfield site)
3 out of 4 years paid dividends compared to harvest movement ( first three years extra margin paid for the shed)
no regrets compared to old inefficient building.
Also labour saving filling in the busy period of harvest too.
6 miles from where I live, half my land by the store, only downside if any is I had to buy a second telehandler !

id be interested to hear what you built, size, floor type etc. Looking at pricing up for 2 for next harvest and getting anxious!

 

[Skintagain]

Personally I would just keep it as it is. Old telehandler at each farm jobs a good un

 

[Birchfarmer]

id be interested to hear what you built, size, floor type etc. Looking at pricing up for 2 for next harvest and getting anxious!

I’ll take some pictures tomorrow for you, inside and out
not 100% FinnishEd yet but serves me well.
both 100ft by 50ft with 12ft gap between for dryer ( covered)

id be interested to hear what you built, size, floor type etc. Looking at pricing up for 2 for next harvest and getting anxious!