A grain dryer is used to dry corn and soybeans to prevent rot and mold. It is expensive, so farmers may rent or use a cooperative. While it can be a financial boon for large-scale operations, most farmers try to avoid using it due to the added expense. The dryer uses fans and heaters to dry the grain, and the temperature can approach boiling point. The use of a dryer is a food safety issue, and the decision to use it depends on the circumstances.
A grain dryer, as the name suggests, is a machine made simply to dry grain. In the US, this is commonly used for two major crops: corn and soybeans. The grain dryer is an expensive piece of equipment and not many farmers have it. Rather, they may use the services of an agricultural cooperative or rent one in some situations.
Most farmers try to avoid having to use a grain dryer, or at least try to use it very little whenever possible. This is due to the additional expense that the extra step will entail. This is why farmers will leave their crops in the field as long as they dare to in the fall. The dead plants will naturally dry out the corn and beans. However, harvesting must be done before the plants start losing their valuable crop.
However, a grain dryer can also be an invaluable tool for large-scale agricultural operations. This is because it allows for at least part of the crop to be harvested early. Without advances in grain dryer technology, that extended harvest season created by starting earlier may not have been possible. In the long run, this can be a financial boon to the farming business.
A grain dryer is simply necessary due to the moisture content inherent in both corn and soybeans in most cases. These crops, if not processed into dry grain, would rot or mould. However, the effects for both humans and animals who have consumed this grain could be very harmful, even fatal. Therefore, the use of a grain dryer becomes a food safety issue.
The crop is loaded into the grain dryer usually with the help of a grain auger. Once in the dryer, it is subjected to a high level of wind produced by fans and heat produced by powerful heaters. The temperature of an activated dryer can approach the boiling point. The more air and heat that passes through the dryer, the faster the grain will be dried. Afterwards, the grain can be stored in a grain silo or grain silo until it is ready for further transportation.
In some cases, the grain may be dry enough to transport without needing a grain dryer to dry it further. In other cases, the moisture content may be so low that simply letting it sit and air dry for any length of time will be sufficient for the grain to dry out. In the end, the use of a dryer depends a lot on the circumstances.
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