The around-the-clock loud sound of portable grain dryers at harvest time is something farm families and their surrounding neighbors accept. Bucky Green tested a new dryer which cut that noise level by 50 percent.

Green co-owns Jaros Farms with Mike Jaros. Their operation was one of only two locations in the South that tested GSI’s new Quiet Dryer last season.

The GSI Quiet Dryer uses a commercial strength blower with fewer fan blades, less open design and heavier duty construction that offers reduced noise and a softer, more pleasing sound compared to vane axial fan dryers. It is also quieter and more energy-efficient than centrifugal fans, which require twice as much horsepower to deliver the same amount of air.

“We’ve been very pleased with the GSI Quiet Dryer,” Green said. “It was surprising that you can actually stand next to it and have a conversation, unlike a standard portable dryer. There’s no comparison.”

Combined, his two operations include 2,500 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat and cover crops. Local GSI dealer, Southern AgCom, Inc., based in Blakely, Ga., designed and installed a GSI full grain system for Jaros Farms, and helped arrange the participation in the testing the new Quiet Dryer.

“GSI is pleased to offer farmers this innovative new design, which combines the power and reliability of our leading commercial-grade tower dryer into the quietest portable dryer in agriculture,” said Jarod Wendt, GSI grain conditioning engineering manager. “This introduction reflects GSI’s commitment to innovation and continuous product improvement.”

Related:South Georgia corn harvest from 1945

For 2017, the Quiet Dryer is being offered in 12-foot through 26-foot single heater, single module versions with plans for expanded capacity in 2018.