Understanding Grain Handling Equipment like The Grain Auger

Stepping up your farming production can be a thrilling experience, leading you to new paths in your farming career. One of the secrets to becoming a more efficient farm is with the addition of equipment that is designed to make your life easier. 

One of the most helpful pieces of equipment for grain handling has to be the grain auger – but what is a grain auger and how does it help? This article will help to define the use of grain auger, swing away auger systems as well as a host of practical uses.

The grain auger is a useful grain handling equipment for moving large amounts of grain at one time. Its best use is for transporting the grain off of the floor from a grain pile using a special type of raising screw that runs through the long frame of the main mechanical unit itself.

An Innovative Elevation Method

This agricultural screw elevator has many practical uses, its main goal being to raise grain from ground level up to the top of a grain bin or grain silo. For this purpose, many different size grain augers are available, ranging from a few meters in length to tens of meters in length.

Grain augers are also useful in elevating grain from temporary grain storage sites and onto storage containers positioned on transportation such as trucks or trailers. As the grain auger is able to lift the grain from the ground height, there is an open screw bit that is exposed to the grain, in order to reach the grain from ground level.

Due to their versatility, many grain augers are fitted with their own diesel and hydraulic power plants to offer localized power with no additional input. Many of the big manufacturers offer a range of different grain augers, some of which have trailer capabilities with wheels.

This makes them the ideal portable grain augers, with portable grain elevators now becoming the most sought-after agricultural equipment across the country.

Swing Away Augers

These types of grain auger work on the same principal as their older siblings. Being new innovations in grain elevation, they have a few distinct features that set them apart from the rest. The first feature of a swing away auger is the ease of use and the speed in which grain can be elevated to a taller grain storage unit.

Swing away augers offer a reverse scissor lift system that allows the auger to be raised via its own hydraulic system and be placed in the field to gather the grain. With self-levelling sensors and extendable axle width, you can trust the ultimate stability of this type of auger to get the job done without any issue.

With a new range of auger hogs now available, your farming efficiency will be vastly improved, giving you more time to get other jobs done. Advantec systems are designed to work in combination with each other to get your grain from the field to its storage, improving your process and efficiency. With a range of innovative products in grain handling, this season could be your biggest season yet!

Choosing the Best Grain Storage Solutions for Your Crops

Whilst the main benefits of storing grain are evident in the risky business of farming – price fluctuations, overproduction and harvest loss are the main reasons why the majority of commercial farmers use an entire system of grain storage to maximise their crop value and minimise their crop loss. There are a number of dependable grain storage systems on the market, so let’s take a look at some of them, and their uses and benefits. 

Grain storage comes into play for a number of reasons such as overproduction, grain transportation, and to minimise the risks associated with grain storage. The main grain storage system in place amongst large farms aims to keep the grain in dry conditions and minimise the risks associated with grain loss, such as to rot or fungal growth.

Temperature Control, Aeration and Storage

In these grain storage solutions, temperature control, ease of access and the ability to move large amounts of grain from the site to a storage unit and then on to transportation makes the difference. The majority of grain storage is done for a medium period of time, and therefore needs to be kept in a cool, and dry place to ensure the crop is not damaged.

Bulk grain storage silos exist to allow a huge quantity of grain to be stored in an easily accessible unit for future transportation. Maintaining the temperature of the grain storage in harsh weather is a challenge.

Modern Grain Storage Solutions

Grain storage such as Advantec’s “Grain Guardian” is a modern take on the old silo technique, with a few twists. It has a clever aeration system that allows for the movement of air over the top of the silo to take away heat build-up which can cause issues with crop degradation itself.

This innovative method is not where the grain guardian stops, as with rigid sides that include strengthened hoops surrounding the building, there is no internal structure so you can maximise the internal volume of grain stored within.

Temporary Measures

For crop overproduction, temporary measures are needed to store the excess and maintain its quality, in times where other grain storage devices are full or non-functional. In these instances, temporary hoop structures are used to store the grain at ground level, allowing for a temporary solution when awaiting transportation. 

Many farms use temporary grain storage solutions to keep the grain on site and minimise on extra costs of transportation and storage at another site. These temporary measures ensure that the crop stays in optimal condition for a short period of time, allowing storage elsewhere on site at a later date.

Innovative New Designs

For more long term grain storage solutions, a larger grain storage device is needed. Advantec is now using some of the most innovative technology in the industry to create grain-air tubes that allow for the circulation of cool air from within a crop pile itself.

These inventive structures consist of a central pole that has holes punched in it that allow the air from the central pile of the crop to rise to the top of the grain storage silo and out into the air.

The build-up of heat from within the central column of the crop is what turns crop into rotting crop, and with a minimal risk of fungal growth due to the warm air being taken away, these longer term grain storage solutions are best for larger farms, or farms that keep grain for longer periods of time.

It’s important to take the time to select which grain storage solution fits your needs best so you get a high yield and loose as little product as possible. Advantec offers a range of quality options that can help you make the most of your crop and can also tailor a unique solution to perfectly meet your needs.