Grain Storage Bins vs Storage Sheds

[Flatlander]

I see there is a certain YouTuber who has found that with it seeming as though they were miss led on parts not quite the million dollar site they were hoping but I dare say it will get sorted out in the end the only thing I would be concerned about is that if the concrete under their hopper bin has cracked after only being half filled I can hel but wonder what it is like their 50k bushel bins where it is hidden by the flooring.

But saying that you get shonky people in all industries and have seen sheds built that ended up not being fit for purpose or ended up needing a lot of remedial work done.

A flat bottom bin would need significantly less concrete to support the weight of the grain as it’s spread over the entire area whereas the hoppers are supported on a given number of legs. My three bigger bind hold 380 ish tons each and stand on 22 inches of 35mpa concrete with two layers of 3/4 inch rebar on a foot square grid.

 

[daveydiesel1]

Yes and closed lift arm ends and then they fit a quick hitch frame with hooks on

The only benefit to that is u can hitch on stuff without leaving the seat, its actually not a bad idea

 

[Woldgrain Storage]

Thanks for tagging us in,

We currently have 60 silos, ranging from 200mt and 450mt hopper bottomed intake silos up to our newest 5,500mt silos.

Our silos are filled from three pits and three driers.

We have silos rather than sheds for all the reasons already mentioned above;

• Smaller footprint per tonne (greater depth of grain)
• Reduced labour requirement per tonne
• Opportunities for segregation
• Easier to blend accurately
• Easier to automate tipping & outloading
• Less vermin risk
• Convenient temperature monitoring, ventilation and sampling
• Works well with CF driers

We would probably only look at shed storage if we had a secure long term requirement to store human consumption beans.

 

[Flatlander]

Thanks for tagging us in,

We currently have 60 silos, ranging from 200mt and 450mt hopper bottomed intake silos up to our newest 5,500mt silos.

Our silos are filled from three pits and three driers.

We have silos rather than sheds for all the reasons already mentioned above;

• Smaller footprint per tonne (greater depth of grain)
• Reduced labour requirement per tonne
• Opportunities for segregation
• Easier to blend accurately
• Easier to automate tipping & outloading
• Less vermin risk
• Convenient temperature monitoring, ventilation and sampling
• Works well with CF driers

We would probably only look at shed storage if we had a secure long term requirement to store human consumption beans.

Sound an efficient system.

 

[Woldgrain Storage]

Sound an efficient system.

It works well, the downside is the quantity of moving parts involved with all the conveyors, pits, elevators, discharge augers and sweep augers.

In a very dry year haulage struggles to keep up with the store and in a very wet year drying can struggle to keep up with haulage, which is probably the same for everyone.

 

[Cheesehead]

It works well, the downside is the quantity of moving parts involved with all the conveyors, pits, elevators, discharge augers and sweep augers.

In a very dry year haulage struggles to keep up with the store and in a very wet year drying can struggle to keep up with haulage, which is probably the same for everyone.

What size augers etc do you run I am guessing not the 4" that a few on a previous thread still seem to think augers only come in.

 

[MattR]

There's a few comments above about the vermin risk of shed storage.

Our store is a mishmash of 1960s crittal bins with extra bits added to in the 80s, complete with pits and an array of old elevators and augers, mostly under one roof with various wooden doors, and keeping rodents out is an ongoing battle.

When considering building a new grain store (ie a big shed with a couple bays and a roller shutter door), high up on my list of benefits compared to my current set-up is that in my head I can't see vermin being a problem. Surely a modern purpose-built grain store should be impregnable to mice? ie eaves and all access points blocked, doors sealed etc? Is this not the case?

 

[Cheesehead]

There's a few comments above about the vermin risk of shed storage.

Our store is a mishmash of 1960s crittal bins with extra bits added to in the 80s, complete with pits and an array of old elevators and augers, mostly under one roof with various wooden doors, and keeping rodents out is an ongoing battle.

When considering building a new grain store (ie a big shed with a couple bays and a roller shutter door), high up on my list of benefits compared to my current set-up is that in my head I can't see vermin being a problem. Surely a modern purpose-built grain store should be impregnable to mice? ie eaves and all access points blocked, doors sealed etc? Is this not the case?

Clear around and away from water sources with no nooks that they can hide in undisturbed and bait stations would have the biggest impact mice I believe they say are capable of squeezing through 5mm gaps so I would be surprised if they went "Drat they've shut the door.

 

[alomy75]

There's a few comments above about the vermin risk of shed storage.

Our store is a mishmash of 1960s crittal bins with extra bits added to in the 80s, complete with pits and an array of old elevators and augers, mostly under one roof with various wooden doors, and keeping rodents out is an ongoing battle.

When considering building a new grain store (ie a big shed with a couple bays and a roller shutter door), high up on my list of benefits compared to my current set-up is that in my head I can't see vermin being a problem. Surely a modern purpose-built grain store should be impregnable to mice? ie eaves and all access points blocked, doors sealed etc? Is this not the case?

Not when the door’s open

 

[Farmersboy]

I have worked with a mouse proof grain store. When the door was closed properly it never failed. It was just a big square box. There were no augers, conveyors or elevators going through walls or floors which would be entry points for vermin. Every trailer load went through the one door, pushed up with a blade then the door closed at the end of every day. Steel grainwall was impossible for vermin to climb, the supporting structure was gloss painted, so impossible to climb. Every potential gap had been covered by concrete, cement or galvanised sheet. They were not chewing their way in there.

 

[quattro]

There's a few comments above about the vermin risk of shed storage.

Our store is a mishmash of 1960s crittal bins with extra bits added to in the 80s, complete with pits and an array of old elevators and augers, mostly under one roof with various wooden doors, and keeping rodents out is an ongoing battle.

When considering building a new grain store (ie a big shed with a couple bays and a roller shutter door), high up on my list of benefits compared to my current set-up is that in my head I can't see vermin being a problem. Surely a modern purpose-built grain store should be impregnable to mice? ie eaves and all access points blocked, doors sealed etc? Is this not the case?

It’s nigh on impossible to keep sparrows and mice out of shed if they want to go in

 

[Woldgrain Storage]

mice I believe they say are capable of squeezing through 5mm gaps

True. If you have a gap you can poke a pencil through, mice will squeeze in.

 

[Woldgrain Storage]

What size augers etc do you run I am guessing not the 4" that a few on a previous thread still seem to think augers only come in.

On the silos built in the last 10 years the tube is 350mm, the older silos built 2008-2010 will be 8" augers and all the original silos from the early 1980s have tunnel discharges (so no augers).