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To: Just another Joe

I thought this would contribute to the conversation.

Propane shortage impacting corn harvest
http://cornandsoybeandigest.com/blog/propane-shortage-impacting-corn-harvest
Oct. 29, 2013

As we head into November, growers become more concerned with getting corn harvest completed before winter conditions set in. Most of the corn currently being harvested in many areas is still at 18-26% moisture, as a result of later-than-normal planting last spring. The corn moisture content has not dropped significantly since early October, due to the extended cool, damp weather pattern across the region. Corn should be dried to about 15-16% moisture before going into an on-farm grain bin for safe storage until next spring or summer.


26 posted on 02/11/2014 6:39:56 AM PST by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
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To: thackney
Ahh, OK.
The first part is drivel. Farmers routinely harvest at 18% to 21% moisture and use nothing but fans to dry the grain down to about 16% before the cold weather sets in.
When the spring warms up they finish drying to 14% to 15% before selling the grain. (This is in the case of field corn. Other types of grain have different considerations.)
Admittedly, commercial facilities use dryers to dry to about 15% before long term storage.

Also notice that the article says propane shortage affecting grain harvest, not grain harvest affecting propane shortage.
So the propane shortage affects grain drying, not grain drying is one of the causes of propane shortage.

"The shortages of propane gas for corn drying comes at the same time that LP demand is increasing for 2013 home heating needs, which is also earlier this year due to the extended cool weather pattern in October."

The farmers that have harvested at a higher moisture have chilled the grain down to between 5 and 10 degrees farenheit in order to store it over the winter.
Believe me, it's been cold enough.

I don't know what the cause of the shortage is, but I find it hard to believe that grain drying of a wetter harvest is causing it.
I deal with the grain, fans, dryers, and storage of the grain on a daily basis.

27 posted on 02/11/2014 7:07:10 PM PST by Just another Joe (Warning: FReeping can be addictive and helpful to your mental health)
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