World Grain - May 2012 - 62

GRAINOPERATIONS

Maximizing returns
Successfully managing the grain handling process from receiving to shipping will increase profit margin
by Harmon Towne

Whether it’s a small country elevator or a large multinational grain company, the operation of a grain facility is about the same. You receive grain, sample it, may or may not dry it, store it and market it. But in managing your facilities, are you maximizing your returns? The way you manage your operation may depend a great deal on what you do with your grain. Is it sold to companies that turn the grain into feed for livestock and pets or does the grain go into the human food chain? You may think that if the grain is going into animal or pet food, then your operation need not be as sophisticated as one selling grain that is used for food for human consumption. But in today’s environment that isn’t necessarily true. In order to maximize your returns, there are many facets of your operation that must be properly maintained and operated, from receiving the grain to shipping it. Certainly each operation is somewhat unique and you may not employ all of the operations at your facility. Likewise, you may have some operations that aren’t mentioned in this article. The important thing to keep in mind is to be able to ship the best product possible to maximize your return. RECEIVING/DRYING When receiving grain you should be sampling it for moisture content, ﬁnes and cracks and making sure it does not contain molds, etc. Depending on the ﬁnal market place, you may also have to check for speciﬁc GMO grain. What is your policy for accepting or
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Keeping a clean, well-maintained dryer is a must for any operation. Photo courtesy of Mathews Co.

rejecting such grain and can you clearly document your actions? It is essential that you have policies and procedures in place for these situations. Depending on your market, there may also be government regulations that you must adhere to. You will then determine the necessity of cleaning and drying the grain. It is highly recommended that the grain be cleaned prior to drying if it contains a large amount of ﬁnes and cracked kernels. The drying efﬁciency will be greatly improved by doing this, which will lower your drying costs. This may also reduce the risk of dryer ﬁres. Keeping a clean, well-maintained dryer is a must for any operation. Prior to the harvesting season your dryers should have been properly cleaned, checked for worn parts and made ready

for a new season. Carefully monitor the grain coming out of the dryer to make sure you are not removing more moisture than necessary. The amount of time you are going to store the grain and your local climate will have a large impact on how dry the grain must be. STORAGE After the storage structure is emptied, it should be completely cleaned and checked for any problems in the structure itself. Grain residue left in the structure can be a location for insect infestation, mold occurrence and the start of structural damage. It is also recommended to spray around the interior and exterior of the structure at ground level with an approved insecticide. The base should be carefully
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World Grain - May 2012

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