How tough can spring wheat be combined

[Ooofty]

at if it is going to be dried in a grain dryer? Most guys say 20% is the limit for aeration but how high for a grain dryer?

[TOM4CWB]

Oofty,

How many times do you want to put it through the dryer?

4-6 points out/down each pass through with most dryers. To be safe do not have over 140deg F to keep milling quality... be sure no hot spots that cook it.

"Farm dryers
There are many kinds of farm dryers on the market. For safe drying of your wheat, the dryer must:

•Keep the wheat moving in the dryer
•Mix the wheat with the hot air
If wheat is not kept moving, kernels lying next to the heat source dry first. These may be damaged if the air temperature is above 60°C (140°F).

Drying wheat safely on the farm and in elevators

Grain dryers
Determine the temperature in your dryer
•Take the temperature of the hot air before it enters the dryer.
◦Temperatures taken within the wheat layers may be misleading.
•You may need to install extra temperature sensors to determine the highest air temperature in the plenum.
◦Dryer thermometers may be inaccurate or incorrectly placed in the plenum.
•Watch the thermometers inside the dryer to ensure the temperature stays constant.
◦Outside air temperature and wind may affect drying.
Keep temperatures at levels safe for your dryer
•If your dryer has not been tested, keep temperatures below 60°C (140°F).
•If you use a non-recirculating dryer or a cross flow continuous dryer, keep temperatures at 60°C (140°F) or below.
•If you use another type of dryer:
◦Dry batches at 60°C (140°F).
◦Have the results tested.
◦If tests show no damage, raise the temperature to 65°C (149°F).
◦Test again. (With some dryers, you may be able to raise the temperature to 70°C (158°F).)
Do not overdry
Stop drying when the moisture level in your wheat reaches 14.5 percent. As the wheat cools, more moisture will be lost.

Dry very wet wheat slowly
If your wheat is over 20 percent moisture:

•Remove less than 6 percent of the moisture in one pass through the dryer. Do not attempt to remove more.
•Keep the temperature below 60°C (140°F).
•Reduce the drying temperature to 50°C (122°F) to for the last quarter of the heating cycle.
How grain dryers can damage wheat quality
Some dryers may overheat the wheat. This partially cooks the protein inside the kernel. Wheat flour with cooked protein is not good for baking. Wheat with cooked protein is only good for feed."
http://www.grainscanada.gc.ca/guides-guides/drying-sechage/gdm-msg-eng.htm#a

[furrowtickler]

There was wheat harvested at 20 to over 25 last week. I have no idea how that pencils out, but they were doing it. Also it must be cleaned b/c of ergot - most is a feed. Quick math tells me $1/bus for drying then $1/bus to clean - then end up with a #2 11-12%protien = sfa at the end of the day. But hey the big guys must roll, no choice - gota get the ac off. What are some of these guys doing themselves? And they will be out renting more next year - it's a head scratcher to say the least.
Long story short, yes wheat can be combined very tough - but is it worth it?

[Ooofty]

Hi Tom and Furrow,our dryer is a continuose flow. It is round and flows from top to bottom. The last time we used it was 1993. Just thought since aeration can take it down from 20% the dryer could do more. I think our quality is not that bad yet. Hopefully #1 still so I wanna get rolling in the field as soon as possible. Thanks for the link.

[vvalk]

what about burners in airation bins? Have some larger bins with 15 & 25 hp fans and burners. My first year. anyone with experience on how tough you can go?

[TOM4CWB]

vvalk,

I have tried heaters with some sucsess.

It is a real struggle when freezing temps frost up the tops of bins.

Below freezing the drying capacity drops to near nothing... so if minus 10 deg C... with a 10 degree temp rise... then hardly anything happens.

I spent all winter last year worrying about 12percent flax... had fans on for 45 days on warmer days... it did nothing to dry the flax down. Watch the top of the bin like a hawk... at the peak. Moisture condensates there and it will spoil if fan is shut down. I open the lid some... but there is a problem with birds flying in and then they can't get out... really there is a need for a vent on the lid at the top.

I finally got some warmer days in June to get it down so it all blended dry in July. Spent close to $2000 on power and gas.

It can be a real struggle keeping the burners going. They do help and cut the drying time in half... especially if you can get daytime temps over 18C... then they really help.

[ado089]

If you pull enough grain out of the bin to take the peak off it will help prevent moisture build up at the top.