Grain moisture

[sticky]

Could someone tell me what they think would be a safe moisture for sp barley to be stored in a heap for a couple of weeks before drying please. I don't have any fans or spears and it is struggling to get below 16% before about 4pm.

 

[Spencer]

18%

 

[sticky]

18%

Thanks.

 

[Brisel]

It depends on the temperature. Search the AHDB for the Grain Safe Storage guide and there is lots of good information in there.

 

[Heathland]

I cut some spring barley 2wks ago at 16% walk into shed yesterday,smelt a bit winey,unfortunately the fan had been switched over to manual.Switch fan on, clouds if steam came pooring out of the front of the heap.
Certainly cooked the green out of it,probably fudged it for malting now.

 

[Zebbedee]

Could someone tell me what they think would be a safe moisture for sp barley to be stored in a heap for a couple of weeks before drying please. I don't have any fans or spears and it is struggling to get below 16% before about 4pm.

As 18% will store for weeks ok but a risk of damper pockets? If you have the space just to move the heap a bit with the forklift it makes a surprising difference to any risk of heating