Each rain event
contributes to additional deterioration of grain quality. While the
objective is to harvest as quickly as possible, if the grain is going to be
stored for later use as feed (or ethanol, etc), please DO NOT harvest at high
moisture content. Already moldy grain will continue moldy growth unless the
moisture is below 12%. To arrest growth, harvest below 12% and keep air
flowing in the bins.
Moisture
sensors in the combine are unlikely to be accurate for sprout damaged grain!
Moisture
sensors are calibrated to read sound grain - that is, grain with density
of 60 pounds per bushel. Rain-damaged and sprouted grain lose density and test
weights are coming in at 50 to 56 pounds per bushel. The combine moisture
sensors cannot recalculate moisture based on these lower test weights and this
increases the likelihood that moisture readings are inaccurate!!
Grain
reading 12% moisture as you are harvesting MAY ACTUALLY BE 13 - 14%
MOISTURE.
IF
you decide to “push it” and harvest at 13% moisture, you may actually be at
14-15% moisture! Please be aware that those conditions will allow for the
development of “hot spots’ in storage, and molds will continue to grow. You may
end up taking grain out of the bins with a jack hammer and respiration gear!
The
“official” instruments for measuring grain moisture are the Perten (http://www.perten.com/) and / or the Dickey
John (http://www.dickey-john.com/).
If your elevator does not have the correctly calibrated instrumentation, they
may not be getting accurate moisture measurements, either.
REFERENCE:
Wheat
Test Weight Decreases With Delayed Harvest
http://www.sites.ext.vt.edu/newsletter-archive/cses/2006-06/wheattestweight.html
Crop
and Soil Environmental News, June 2006
Wade Thomason, Extension Grains Specialist, Dept. of Crop & Soil Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech
Wade Thomason, Extension Grains Specialist, Dept. of Crop & Soil Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech
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