Grain silos are structures used to store bulk materials such as grain, seeds, or silage. They come in various forms, including bag, bunker, and tower silos. Tower silos are the most common but require high maintenance due to spoilage from acidic silage.
A grain silo is a structure created to store bulk materials. They are usually tall and cylindrical, but can also be built in the form of warehouses, domes, or large elongated sacks. They mainly contain grain, seeds or silage, forage that is harvested green and then stored and left to ferment. This forage is then used to feed livestock or as a biofuel and is usually grass, alfalfa, sorghum, oats or corn.
The three main types of grain silos are bag silos, bunker silos and tower silos. Bag silos are an inexpensive way to store grain and silage and are made of a heavy, strong plastic, usually 6 to 8 feet (2 to 2.5 meters) in diameter and can be any length. They are often used for overflows, when more grain storage space is needed.
To access the grain, farmers simply tear off the plastic, using any sharp object. Each section of the bag is cut open, until all of the grain has been removed and used as needed. Some farmers use this method exclusively, due to its ease of access, low maintenance requirements, and economical price.
Bunker silos are similar to bag silos in that they store both grain and silage and are made primarily of durable plastic. These silos are created by digging a pit in the ground and filling it with grain until it forms a large mound. A large plastic sheeting is then placed over the mound and covered with heavy objects, usually rocks, to keep it from falling off. Sometimes concrete walls are formed around it for protection. Bunker silos are inexpensive and require little maintenance.
Tower silos are the most common type of grain silo. These tall structures can be up to 275 feet (84 meters) tall and are typically made of concrete. The tower silo uses gravity to pack and distribute the grain. The weight of the material pushes down, compressing the lower layers, allowing more space for storage.
A recurring problem with tower silos is spoilage from the storage of silage, which is highly acidic. Over time, it can begin to corrode the walls of the structure. A high level of maintenance is required or the silo can collapse. Whenever it is emptied, the farmer should do a thorough inspection of the entire structure to ensure that there is no damage.
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