New grain dryer opinions?

[L P]

Our old shivvers in bin system is getting pretty worn out, all the safeties get bypassed most years to keep it going,
In the next couple of years I'm likely to be alone for cutting, carting and drying and planning an efficient labourless drying operation. On floor is an option, and fairly obvious but for the reduction in capacity. We only just fit it in the shed now and the yard doesn't lend itself to extending it. Store is super, bins always leak and I prefer not to winter store in them. So really am looking at an efficient dryer which cools, probably continuous flow.
I'd sooner not buy new for the price of them. Conveyors and elevators are pretty good inside the barn and could be reused. Blanch, Farm Fans, Perry, Allmet or possibly a large gsi stirrer bin are my shortlist, I was sure set on a new farm fans but lots of folk have had them burn out seemingly. Opinions on an easy to run mostly automated system would be good.

 

[Chae1]

Central storage?

 

[L P]

Central storage?

Possible, yes, but organic. We had a small tonnage like that previously when conventional. They couldn't have sold it worse. Organic Market isn't easy. Camgrain maybe would be OK but I'd sooner invest in my own place than elsewhere

 

[JD6920s]

Our old shivvers in bin system is getting pretty worn out, all the safeties get bypassed most years to keep it going,
In the next couple of years I'm likely to be alone for cutting, carting and drying and planning an efficient labourless drying operation. On floor is an option, and fairly obvious but for the reduction in capacity. We only just fit it in the shed now and the yard doesn't lend itself to extending it. Store is super, bins always leak and I prefer not to winter store in them. So really am looking at an efficient dryer which cools, probably continuous flow.
I'd sooner not buy new for the price of them. Conveyors and elevators are pretty good inside the barn and could be reused. Blanch, Farm Fans, Perry, Allmet or possibly a large gsi stirrer bin are my shortlist, I was sure set on a new farm fans but lots of folk have had them burn out seemingly. Opinions on an easy to run mostly automated system would be good.

@grainboy

 

[Mark C]

Much bigger combine …..

 

[L P]

Much bigger combine …..

I'm already on that theory, will be ballsed in a wet year.

 

[Foxcover]

If you’re organic then a mobile dryer like an Opico or Mecmar will clean your sample up and take fines out too. Easier to do small batches also.

 

[Oldmacdonald]

What capacity do you need?

Total tonnes harvested?

 

[Tractor Tim]

We put a continuous flow system in 10 years ago , while there is nothing wrong with it I think I would look at the option of on floor drying with agitation and maybe even a cleaner on the way in. Would also consider heating it with straw or similar

 

[Nick.]

If you do anything with the bin for gods sake don’t get involved with Danagri.

 

[Flatlander]

Storing systems here were all the rage 15 years ago. Now they are close to free if you take them out. So much moving of grain in and out kills the benefit of the system. Depending on tonnage I’d go batch. i run a continuous dryer but not often do I walk away and leave it. All the safety gadgets in the world won’t convince me to trust it completely. Big or bigger still batch and make moving it to and from that dryer fast.

 

[Daniel]

If you’re just storing one crop then a Sukup drying silo with stirrers works well. Pricey, but tax efficient, in two harvests we haven’t had to fire up the burner yet, mixing damp and dry has been enough.

 

[Salopian_Will]

Our Shivvers was also getting worn. Went for an 18t Mecmar, albeit with autoloading trench conveyer in a new store. More capacity than the Shivvers but boy are they dirty, dusty things in comparison and it probably wont last nearly as well, given how simple the Shivvers were. The major step up in output has been the ability to tip in the conveyer and go, rather than auger into the Shivvers. It does look after itself over night, automatically loading and unloading.

 

[cousinjack]

Have you considered an automated batch drier ?

An opico, 12t model for example could be set up with an intake pit, below the damp grain heap.
3 phase motor to drive it.
Fully automated through app on phone…

loads, dries, cools and empties

All the trailer driver would need to do is push up the heaps every time you tip..

 

[L P]

Oh, whys that?!

 

[grainboy]

Know of a few Static continuous driers available

 

[L P]

Oh, whys that?

Our Shivvers was also getting worn. Went for an 18t Mecmar, albeit with autoloading trench conveyer in a new store. More capacity than the Shivvers but boy are they dirty, dusty things in comparison and it probably wont last nearly as well, given how simple the Shivvers were. The major step up in output has been the ability to tip in the conveyer and go, rather than auger into the Shivvers. It does look after itself over night, automatically loading and unloading.

The shivvers has a lot going for it, it's always been unreliable but easy to fix, mobile dryer seems a step backwards in a sense, I've considered it, but would sooner have a fixed system probably.

 

[L P]

Know of a few Static continuous driers available

I'd be interested in a good one. 15-25tph

 

[L P]

Have you considered an automated batch drier ?

An opico, 12t model for example could be set up with an intake pit, below the damp grain heap.
3 phase motor to drive it.
Fully automated through app on phone…

loads, dries, cools and empties

All the trailer driver would need to do is push up the heaps every time you tip..

I have considered it. We have quite a good infrastructure here with pit, conveyors and elevators for a fixed system. The setup as is doesn't lend itself that well to a mobile dryer... may as well have a fixed unit by the time it's plumbed in. Wet barn is a separate building, so every bucket would have to be put in from there, which is creating a greater job than what's here already

 

[L P]

If you’re just storing one crop then a Sukup drying silo with stirrers works well. Pricey, but tax efficient, in two harvests we haven’t had to fire up the burner yet, mixing damp and dry has been enough.

How fast could it dry that crop? say 400t per crop type