The HGCA has now released its most recent edition of their go to guide for grain storage. The Grain Storage Guide for Cereals and Oilseeds is an invaluable resource when considering grain drying and storage options.
Safe, effective grain storage is key to assuring crop quality and helping prevent loss of premiums through claims and rejections.
The economic benefits of storage are clear. The capability of storing grain for a November delivery will attract a £4/tonne premium over the harvest price, with May movement giving a further £7/tonne. Understanding the costs of storage is crucial. Grain drying is key factor in effective storage and the best practise guidance laid out in this booklet is endorsed by DEFRA, the NFU and FERA among others.
HGCA’s Grain storage guide was first published in 1999 and has become a key reference for most assurance schemes. This third edition of HGCA’s grain storage guide combines information from the previous edition and the results of a five-year Defra and industry-funded LINK research project in a new risk management approach to grain storage based on HACCP (hazrd analysis and critical control point) principles.
The guide recognises that achieving target moisture content within the shortest time possible is necessary to prevent the risk of mycotoxin formation and quality degradation. It looks are the various ways that this can be achieved. The full document can be downloaded here.
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Grain drier maintenance is crucial it ensures safe and efficient drying. Failure to clean the drier during harvest will increase the likelihoodof faults, resulting in the loss of precious time.
Nearly the entire UK area has now been harvested. The last 5% of wheat and 10% of spring barley have now, more than likely been cleared up since the 
All over the UK farms are well into harvest and many, especially in the south, are entering the crucial post-harvest phase. Grain drying, cooling and storage systems are in full swing, ensuring crops are in optimum condition before delivery. Now, more than at any other point in the year, farmers are very aware of the capability of their systems. At this point we believe it is crucial to evaluate your grain drying and a storage requirement as the existing system is put through its paces.
When grain is accepted by merchants at a moisture content level which is higher than that contracted, the weight loss due to drying must be calculated. This enables the actual value of the grain to be worked out. This charge and also the charge applied for then drying the grain can be avoided through having suitable facilities for on-farm grain drying.
Harvest 2010 is looking a bit gloomy at the moment, the 
This time of year we are always occupied with helping new customers to get the best from their Mecmar grain driers and usually reminding a few older ones what they should be doing too. A great many questions centre around the issue of drying temperatures. 