To help farmers preserve the quality of grain stored in bins, a webinar June 3 will explore the ongoing impacts from the 2019 harvest and provide an early 2020 crop forecast. 

Iowa State University grain quality expert Charles Hurburgh will be presenting. This is an installment in the Grain Elevator and Processing Society’s summer learning series, sponsored by Sukup Manufacturing Co. The free webinar is at 10 a.m. June 3. Register at the link here. Or copy and paste the following into your browser: zoom.us/webinar/register/1715895679458/WN_D1sFdj92QhuO_9jsrrNO0g. 

Don’t gamble with stored grain 

Hurburgh will explore poor quality grain, lack of storage space, market price prospects and storage decisions, the overall economy, and other issues. The session will also touch on very early forecasting of the 2020 crop, what to expect and tips to start planning for harvest this coming fall. 

Corn and soybeans in storage need to be checked regularly, at least once every two weeks to watch for signs of spoilage developing. Turn on the fan and smell the first air that emerges. Probe the grain and test samples for moisture content. 

“Last fall’s harvest was wetter than average, and corn and soybeans in bins this spring generally have higher-than-usual moisture levels,” Hurburgh says. “Crop prices are depressed, and farmers want to hold their grain in storage in hopes of getting higher prices this summer. But waiting for prices to increase could result in damaged and lower-quality grain. They need to either sell now or dry it down to a safe moisture level for storage. If the grain quality is currently OK, that’s the grain to dry and hold.” 

Get bins ready for big crop 

With the combination of low prices and slowdown in demand for grain caused by the continuing COVID-19 situation, “this is likely to create a shortage of storage space at harvest this fall,” he says. “Especially if you see an opportunity to catch a price rally to move stored grain in June, July or possibly August, be ready to start emptying your bins and get your on-farm storage space ready for the new crop.” 

It’s reasonable to predict a larger harvest this fall than in 2019. The U.S. has increased planted acres of both corn and soybeans in 2020. Planting conditions have generally been favorable, and this year’s crops are off to a good start, Hurburgh says. “If we have favorable weather during the growing season, you can expect another big crop vying for storage space this fall.” 

Source: ISU, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.