Bin drying of canola

[ajl]

I have about 3800 bu of canola in an 18' hopper bin. Have been aerating it with a bit of heat going into the fan for about 10 days now. Moisture ranges from 8.5 to 13.5 with most of it being near the upper end. A bit of drying occurred when temps were warmer last week but now it will not dry any more as my heater will only raise the temp about 4-5 degrees C. Dryers booked at the elevator till beginning of February. Bin has temp cable in the center of bin. I have taken a tandem load of canola out of the bin so there is no pile heap. Now what to do? Anyone had this situation before. Canola seems uniform and cool (went in the bin at 7C) everywhere. Will this bin hold till Feb and I can get to the dryer? Does it need to be aerated continuously to hold? Aeration consists of inverted v trough and 3 hp fan as that is all the power there is. Marketing any of this canola tough is doubtful as the area is swamped with it.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

Wait for thre next Cold spell, turn the fan on. Run every cold night until you get it down to 20 below. Then forget about it until it warm enough to try it next spring.

[biglentil]

Wait for thre next Cold spell, turn the fan on. Run every cold night until you get it down to 20 below. Then forget about it until it warm enough to try it next spring.

That or rent a 500kbtu frost fighter and pound indirect heat into it for a week. She'll be dry after 3 or 4 days.

[Oliver88]

If I were you, I'd be renting a diesel powered heater to dry the bin, likely would take 4-5 days since your average is only 12%.

Once it's dry move it off the farm.

[Oliver88]

AJL, I'm not sure where you're located but the company formerly known as Handi Rentals was bought out by Sunbelt Rentals.

They rent out all kinds of heaters, they have a location in Saskatoon.....they likely have a few locations in Alberta too.

[Guest]

That or rent a 500kbtu frost fighter and pound indirect heat into it for a week. She'll be dry after 3 or 4 days.

I dont think youll get the air out quick enough it will rain inside bin Surprising you dont need a lot of heat just low humidity and it doesnt take much heat for that .we have had some real messes with our natural gas aeriation heater moisture runs down inside of walls and can stick a foot thick

[WiltonRanch]

If you had a big frost fighter going and you turned the bin a couple times would that help with the rain effect and prevent super tough canola from channeling.

[seabass]

Freeze it down til spring then air it out. 12 aint too bad. It will keep if u get it frozen. Now if u need to sell it that different. Get a Frost fighter and heat it up. Few days then cool it down good and it shud be close to dry. Might wanna rotate a load out then back in.Good luck

[hobbyfrmr]

I dont think youll get the air out quick enough it will rain inside bin Surprising you dont need a lot of heat just low humidity and it doesnt take much heat for that .we have had some real messes with our natural gas aeriation heater moisture runs down inside of walls and can stick a foot thick

You are right with that observation. I installed 2 more mushroom style vents on bin roof from local coop. This gives equally the air and moisture to keave the bin. There is the fill hole, the manhole and 2 more vents now. It made a difference.

[biglentil]

You are right with that observation. I installed 2 more mushroom style vents on bin roof from local coop. This gives equally the air and moisture to keave the bin. There is the fill hole, the manhole and 2 more vents now. It made a difference.

Outside 4 inches + in cone will sprout on ya in my limited experience. Rotating does not fix that issue. When shes empty you get a little exercise and the field gets a little organic matter. Probably rains less in a full bin if your fan can handle the static pressure.

[Klause]

We've dried 400mt of wheat and 100mt of canola so far with a 220K Btu diesel heater and 5HP air fans in 3000bu flat bottoms.


It heats the air up to about 40 degrees. Only fill bin half way, so 1 B train per bin. Run heat for 36 hours to take 20% wheat to 13 or 16% canola to 11.

Trick is to only half fill the bin... and have lots of air so you actually heat the air space above the grain and then pump the moist air out of the bin... You still get a bit of crusty stuff but as soon as it's dried, and has had 12 hours of cooling, remove it from that bin... and fill it and start all over again. Works slick!!!