Cleaning and Maintenance of Grain Storage Structures

Spring might still feel like a long way off, considering we’re still sitting under quite a bit of snow, but farmers and other agricultural professionals are constantly thinking a season or two ahead. For agricultural professionals who grow and harvest grain, it is important for them to not just have adequate grain storage solutions, but also that they implement methods for reliable cleaning and maintenance of those grain storage facilities.

It’s a good idea to take care of all your cleaning and maintenance tasks before you begin harvesting your grain, as it is crucial that you keep the grain clean during storage. Investing in sanitation at your facilities can save you a significant amount of money in the long run by protecting the quality of your crop.

Here are just a few tips for you to keep in mind for better grain storage tank and facility cleaning in Colorado.

Inspecting and cleaning your facilities

Your first step should be to inspect the site to see if there are any signs of damage or wear. The grain bins should be your first priority—patch up any holes or cracks to make sure no pests or moisture can enter and compromise the grain. While the bin is empty, make sure you clean out old grain or anything else that might have gotten inside. You should also make it a point to clean any equipment you have on your premises that handles grain, including augers and combines. This will prevent that very equipment from contaminating your grain supply before it even goes into storage.

You should also clean around the bins. If there is any vegetation, you might consider removing it, as grass and shrubbery can provide hiding spots and homes for pests like insects and rodents. Instead of vegetation, create a gravel perimeter around all bins, which will remove any potential homes and hiding spots for unwanted critters. Make sure you also create proper water drainage in the area. If you do not have standing water around the grain storage area, that cuts down on the chances that the grain will get wet and moldy, and will also eliminate another attractive spot for bugs.

If you’ve experienced infestations in the past, you should talk with an extermination professional about pesticides you can apply as a preventative measure after you’re done cleaning. Just make sure you wait an appropriate amount of time after applying the pesticide before you load the grain into bins.

After preparing the bins, you can load in the grain, making sure you remove foreign objects before it goes into storage. Cool and dry the grain before storing it—this will help you maintain its quality over the coming months. Storage with low moisture and temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit will prevent the migration of moisture, as well as potential mold growth.

For more information about grain storage tank cleaning in Colorado and why it is so important, we encourage you to contact the team at DJC Enterprises Inc. today.

Categorised in: Tank Cleaning

This post was written by Writer