How to dry corn without breaking the bank?

Delivering corn that is too dry means an economic loss, mainly due to higher drying costs and loss of water weight. For all practical purposes, 1% moisture represents 1% of delivery weight. So, for the same volume of grain, if you deliver your corn 1% moister, you will receive 1% more net profit.

Dry weight = Wet weight * (100 - % initial moisture) / (100 - % target moisture)

Avoid losses in the field!

Contrary to popular belief, allowing corn to dry out in the field is not a good idea. A 5-year study conducted in Nebraska showed a systematic yield loss of 9 bushels per acre (0.6 t/ha) when harvesting was delayed. With corn at $250/t, that's $134/ha. Enough to make you think! This loss can be explained by several factors, such as thresher nose loss, grain respiration, or pests such as insects and animals.

Harvest early and save big!

The longer you wait for grain to dry in the field, the colder it gets, and the higher your propane costs will be. For example, if the average temperature drops by 10 degrees Celsius, you'll need more propane to heat the air drawn through your dryer. This translates into a 15% increase in propane consumption. Calculation of additional energy consumption:

Plenum temperature: 176 degrees Fahrenheit => 80 degrees Celsius
Average hot temperature: 15 degrees Celsius
Average cold temperature: 5 degrees Celsius
Additional drying costs: (80 - 5) / (80 - 15) = 1.15 In conclusion, it's not always a good idea to delay harvesting, because in the end you lose out on the exchange. You have more opportunities to reduce your drying costs. Want to know more? Read our blog!