Grain Storage for Harvest FS Construction Services

Project Profile: Fully Equipped Grain Storage

While much of the world hit pause on a lot of things last year, there were some things that had to keep going no matter what. Crops still needed to be planted, tended to, and harvested. Which meant that there were farmers who still needed help when they found themselves with broken equipment or not enough space to hold their grain. And of course, that meant FS Construction Services was still hard at work upgrading equipment and building new structures.

Grain Storage for Harvest in a Pinch or a Long Term Plan

This was the case last September, when a client was staring down the coming harvest in need of some extra storage space. Nathan Koester and his team got to work quickly and constructed a 33’ 6-ring Sukup grain bin. This storage bin had a capacity of 15,000 bushels and also featured a 2-down auger, Fastir Stirring Machine, an axial fan and heater, a spreader, and a power sweep. Basically everything needed to prevent rotting, ensure evenly dried grain, and provide just a little bit of certainty in an uncertain time.

The project was finished shortly after we started it and in time for our client to make full use of it during the harvest season. And while life will no doubt continue to be unpredictable, we are always thankful that we have the opportunity to provide little bits of security and reinforcements when they’re needed.

No matter the circumstances, our clients don’t ever stop, which means neither do we. Whether you find yourself in a pinch or you are deep into some long-term planning, if you need grain storage, grain handling, or grain drying equipment, please let Gateway FS Construction Services know. Give us a call at 866-551-3454, and let our specialists help you find exactly what you are looking for. We look forward to providing you the best customer service experience.

Soybean Drying - FS Construction Services

Drying, Storing and Managing Soybeans

The process of drying soybeans has evolved significantly over the years. While the fundamental principal is largely the same (store large batches of grain until it dries), the specifics of how it’s done, and the degrees to which it has been fine-tuned, have changed quite a bit. All drying methods that work for corn can be adapted to soybeans, though the differences between the two are important to bear in mind. So in the interest of helping out, we’re going to go over some helpful hints on drying and managing soybeans. You can find more information on any of these tips in our Grain Drying Manual.

6 Hints to Soybean Drying Success

  1. Soybeans are more fragile than corn and can be damaged by air that is too hot or too dry. Too much heat can cause seed cracking and splits. High drying temperatures can cause 100% splits in as short as five minutes. To prevent coat cracking, the drying air should be kept above 40% relative humidity. In commercial drying, when splits are less of a concern, soybeans can be dried with a maximum temperature of 130-140°
  2. In-bin drying systems designed for corn can work for soybeans too. However, in-bin continuous-flow systems and stirring devices can damage them as moisture drops to 12% or below. Grain spreaders will work for commercial soybeans, but not for seed beans. When not using a spreader, several loads can be removed from the bin’s center during filling to keep grain level and help remove the fines.
  3. To keep in-bin moisture as even as possible, it’s best to use shallow batch depths of 2-3’ when drying.
  4. Run soybeans through a grain cleaner to help remove weed seeds and fines. Too many of either will increase airflow resistance and promote mold and pest growth.
  5. Soybeans have a high oil content, which means they spoil more easily than corn. It’s recommended to keep moisture at 13% for winter storage.
  6. A good aeration system is necessary for safe storage. Ideally, it will be a system with a full floor. Whenever the grain temperature is 10°F above the outside air temperature, the grain can be cooled until the bin temperature is 35-40°

Obviously, there is a lot more that can go into safely drying and storing soybeans, but hopefully these tips will prove useful. As always if you are in need of grain drying, grain storage, or grain handling equipment, please let Gateway FS Construction Services know. Give us a call at 866-551-3454, and let our specialists help you find exactly what you are looking for. We look forward to providing you the best customer service experience.

Tips for Grain Storage - FS Construction Services

Four Tips for Storing Grain in the Winter

One of the realities of farming that many people don’t always think about is how actually getting something to grow, through flood, drought, and storm, is only part of the battle. After grain is actually harvested, there’s an equally involved process that goes into simply storing it that can be just as time consuming. Unsurprisingly, there is a different protocol for storing grain effectively in the summer than in the winter.

Tips to Cooling Grain for Storage

Since the winter season is fully upon us, it seems like as good a time as discuss some tips for how to cool grain for proper winter storage. If, after reading this article, you’d like more information on any of these tips, take a look at our Grain Drying Manual.

  1. Effectively-stored grain requires aeration. When it comes to winter storage, you’ll want to aerate to cool the grain to somewhere between 35 and 40˚F. When the outside day-night air temperature is 10-15˚F cooler than the grain itself, you’ll want to start an aeration cycle. This cycle can be repeated whenever the average outside air temperature drops another 10-15˚. It can take up to three cooling cycles to get the grain to be properly cooled.
  2. When it’s time for an aeration cycle, choose a clear, crisp day when the air and grain are close to the same temperature.
  3. Inspect the grain every couple weeks during the winter months. Get in the bin and look for signs of crusting or wet, sticky, or frozen grain. Additionally, look for hot spots and probe for hard spots. Running the fan will stir the air. If there’s a musty smell, you can check for mold or spoilage. If spoilage is found, move the grain. If it begins to go out of condition, run the fan right away, as long as the outside temperature isn’t more than 10˚F above the grain temperature.
  4. Do not cool grain below freezing. Frozen grain chunks can plug unloading systems and restrict airflow.

The importance of grain drying can’t be overstated and there is a lot to take into consideration, and we will get more in depth as we continue this series. As always if you are in need of grain drying, grain storage, or grain handling equipment, please let Gateway FS Construction Services know. Give us a call at 866-551-3454, and let our specialists help you find exactly what you are looking for. We look forward to providing you the best customer service experience.

Grain Drying Systems - FS Construction Services

Project Profile: The Benefits of Planning Ahead

Here at FS Construction Services we work hard to keep up on the newest trends and changes in technology and hardware in grain dryers. And as important as it is to stay current, it’s also true that when you’ve been around as long as we have, and seen as many types of projects as we’ve seen, you learn a thing or two. And sometimes what you learn is that just a little bit of forward thinking can go a really long way.

Benefits of Planning Ahead for a Grain Drying System

Two years ago we built a 20,000 bushel grain bin for a client, but planning ahead, we built it knowing the client would likely want to add a drying system sometime in the near future. That near future became the present this past summer when we were called in for the job. When our client was ready, we added a 12’ continuous flow Sukup grain dryer and a wet tank to be used for storage once drying is complete. In addition to building the actual structures, we completed all the necessary millwrighting needed to ensure grain can be transferred to and from the dryer.

Our grain systems specialist was on site to oversee the construction and make sure each system was set up exactly as it should be. In addition to construction oversight, our team also provided training for our client to guarantee they could jump right in to the brand new system without any hiccups or difficulties.

If you are interested in any new grain systems, contact the professionals at Gateway FS Construction Services now. You can depend on us to provide the best products and services at the best possible price. For more information on your next grain storage, grain handling, or grain drying system, contact us at 866-551-3454. We look forward to providing you with the best customer service experience.

FS Construction Services seed treatment equipment

Seed Treatment Services #3 of 3: FSCS Seed Treatment Equipment

With spring on the near horizon and planting season just around the corner, FS Construction Services is going to take a look at one of our most popular services, Seed Treatment, and highlight a different aspect of that service. For this third month, we are going to cover seed treatment equipment.

We know that no operation is the same and that seed treaters come in all different shapes and sizes, from tabletop to larger capacity to commercial options to portable treaters. For this reason, we have established a number of partnerships over the years so no matter the amount of seed that needs treating, we have the right equipment to get the job done. One of the most common treaters we install, the LP-series by USC, come in a variety of makes, models, and customizations, assuring the equipment will suit your needs. Additionally, our seed treatment specialists have pretty much done and seen it all and are able to provide advice and guidance on purchasing and installation decisions.

However, when it comes to seed systems, FS Construction Services does much more than installation. While we often work on projects where we are dealing with brand-new equipment, we are also able to retrofit parts of older systems with newer parts to improve consistency, functionality, and longevity.

Speaking of new equipment, increasingly seed systems are relying on new technology and automation to help ensure accurately-coated batches time after time. We also understand that some of these new systems come with a steep learning curve, which is why our specialists will stay however long is needed after installation to help ensure clients how to interface with their new hardware and software for the best possible outcome.

If you have any questions or inquiries about seed treatment, please let Gateway FS Construction Services know. Give us a call at 866-551-3454, and let our specialists help you find exactly what you are looking for. We look forward to providing you the best customer service experience.

High Quality Grain Storage System - FS Construction Services

Project Profile: Delivering a High Quality Solution for Grain Storage

At FS Construction Services, we get the chance to work on all kinds of projects. We believe that no job is unimportant, no matter the size. But we’ve got to say, sometimes it’s just really fun to be able to go all in and provide a client with the whole works. This was the case earlier this year when we got to build an entire grain system, complete with drying, handling, and storage equipment.

Complete Grain Drying, Handling and Storage Equipment Solution

Nathan Koester and his team of Grain Systems professionals had the opportunity to make one farmer very happy when they built a 30’ diameter Sukup 6-ring grain bin, a 16’ long grain dryer, and 6” and 8” double runs. The grain bin, which has an eave height of 22’ and a capacity of 14,700 bushels, also features stairs wrapping around the bin and a catwalk for convenient and safe passage to the drying system. Speaking of which, the T16 continuous-flow dryer can dry an impressive number of bushels per hour, and comes equipped with the QuadraTouch Pro control system, which is easy to use and negates the need for constant monitoring. Finally, we installed an 8” double run which can fill the dryer at 4,000bph and a 6” double run which can unload the dryer at 2,000bph.

While a project like this has a lot of big, moving pieces, proper planning and working closely with the customer made it a success. Our ability to provide the necessary concrete and electrical work expedited the process, and our client was able to begin drying wheat immediately after we finished construction.

Whether you’re in need of an entirely new grain or seed system, schedule routine maintenance or you find yourself just needing some upgrades here and there, please feel free to let Gateway FS Construction Services know. You can give us a call at 866-551-3454, and let our specialists help you find exactly what you are looking for. We look forward to providing you the best customer service experience.

Monitoring Moisture to Maximize Your Soybean Yield

We know corn harvest has been a mixed bag – and definitely down – this year. As corn harvest progresses, the weather cools and we (hope to) get a bit more rain, now is the time to focus on maximizing your upcoming soybean crop and care for it once it’s in the bin.

Studies at the University of Illinois have shown that the average combine leaves 10 percent of the soybean crop in the field. However, by harvesting at a higher moisture content, these losses can be reduced to 4-5 percent. In addition, market weight (and thus value) decrease about 1.15 percent per point of moisture below 13 percent. Again, there’s a case for maximizing value through moisture.

With the advantages documented at those moisture levels, it’s time to have your grain drying plan ready and in place. Because beans have such high oil content, you’ll want to be especially careful in monitoring your bins every day or two. Even though beans typically only require aeration to get them in proper condition, you’ll still want to monitor airflow and the need for heat.

To review your options and set your plan of attack, we recommend taking a look at the FS Grain Drying Guide on our site. You’ll find 60 pages of information on different drying systems and the specifics for drying corn, soybeans, wheat and milo. The facts in the guide can lead to a true increase in your harvest revenue – something vitally important in challenging growing years such as 2012.

 

Opportunity Arises for Purchasing Grain Systems

With an already wild first half of the year, FS Construction Services strongly suggests that now may be the perfect time to purchase grain drying, storage or handling equipment for your farm. Farmers and landowners have plummeting steel prices to thank for the opportunity.

According to statistics provided by Growmark, since January 2012 multiple costs are down, creating a more plausible reason to make the investment.

  • Scrap is down 19%
  • Cold-rolled coils down 16%
  • Hot-dipped galvanized down 15%
  • Rebar down 13%

Reduced grain production and this dip in steel prices is affecting manufacturers and has created a need to move equipment, such as grain bins, out in order to make room for the new. FS Construction Services offers grain systems products from brands such as GSI, Lowry, Sukup, Grain Handler, Brock and more.

If you’re considering looking ahead and making the investment, we suggest talking with us at FS Construction Services to look at your options. Give us a call today at 866-551-3454, and we’ll help you make the most profitable decision for your situation.

 

 

Secure Your Grain Storage, Handling and Drying Upgrades Now

With the recent conclusion of harvest and the cold weather now closing in, Gateway FS suggests now as the time to prepare for next season. As you plan your seed orders in the coming months, have you considered the addition of that 20,000-bushel (or larger) grain bin you’ve had an eye on? Or maybe you’ve looked into a new option for your grain drying or handling. Gateway FS encourages you to take the steps towards acquiring those upgrades now.

Many of our suppliers offer premium discount pricing as the year comes to a close and while farmers are considering equipment updates needed for maximized production next season. The sooner you research and secure your purchase, the deeper the discounts you’ll receive. If you’re unsure about which grain system upgrade will be most beneficial, contact our Grain Systems department for help with your decision.

Some of our suppliers offering off-season discounts include:

GSI
Shivvers
Hutchinson
Sukup
Brock
Lowry

For more information regarding the discounts you can receive on your equipment upgrades, contact us today.

Grain Systems – Glen Muench – 866.551.3454 – Email

Grain Systems (Southern) – Nathan Koester – 618.528.2395 – Email