Harvest strategies for managing grain quality, safety risks and storage challenges
The 2025 growing season brought extreme variability across the Midwest, from drought-stressed fields to waterlogged crops and bumper yields.
During the busy harvest season, these diverse conditions not only increase grain quality challenges but also heighten grain safety risks for farmers, grain elevators, and ag retailers with storage. Therefore, the situation demands specific harvest strategies (PDF) to protect both crops and the safety of anyone working to get them in the bin this fall.
In particular, adapting your approach to excess moisture, drought-damaged crops, or bumper yields is crucial for a successful and safe season. Otherwise, costly losses at the farm or ag retail location may occur.
Managing excess crop moisture at harvest
In many Midwest regions, above-average rainfall created excess crop moisture. Consequently, high-moisture grain can cause issues like bridged grain and crusting in storage, which disrupt proper flow and increase safety risks for workers. Furthermore, prolonged drying times raise the chance of grain dryer fires, especially since most commercial dryers lack built-in fire suppression.
In addition, the accumulation of crop residue further exacerbates these risks by impeding grain flow and intensifying fire hazards.
To help manage these hazards:
- Clean grain dryers (PDF) religiously. Clean every 12 to 24 hours during high-moisture periods.
- Establish fire watch protocols. Assign team members to monitor dryer operations and post emergency contacts.
- Review emergency response plans (PDF). Collaborate with your local fire department for preparedness (PDF).
- Monitor storage conditions. Check bins daily for toxic gases, heating or odors and use temperature monitoring systems.
Handling and storing drought-damaged crops
Drought conditions create grain quality challenges like lightweight kernels, increased foreign material, and structural changes in grain. Drought-damaged or otherwise bad crops in grain storage also elevate the risk of mold and mycotoxin development.
To help handle drought-damaged crops:
- Modify equipment settings: Slow down combine ground speed and reduce rotor speed to minimize drought-damaged grain damage and cracking. Adjust cleaning systems for increased chaff and lightweight kernel management.
- Test for hidden problems: Conduct mycotoxin testing in grain. Even if grain looks acceptable, that testing will help with early detection, segregation and aeration for dry grain.
- Plan storage carefully: Store drought-damaged grain separately and use bins with good aeration for dry grain.
- Implement enhanced monitoring: Increase bin monitoring frequency to twice weekly for temperature and moisture.
Avoiding grain storage risks when time is tight
Finally, fall harvest always brings urgency on farms and at commercial storage sites. And when a bumper crop arrives in a hurry, it not only strains storage capacity but also tempts farmers and retailers to use unsafe temporary storage or to skip grain bin safety protocols.
For example, temporary ground piles depend on specific site conditions. If drainage and stability are inadequate, problems multiply quickly. Moreover, high grain volumes and quality variations raise bin entry risks when grain flow is disrupted. Equipment can also be overworked, leading to clogs.
To help manage temporary grain shortage safely:
- Select sites strategically. Choose well-drained, stable locations for temporary storage.
- Use proper ground pile (PDF) storage techniques. Ensure drainage, use covers with ventilation and monitor temperatures.
- Plan grain transfer operations. Monitor grain condition during transfers and prioritize moving at-risk grain first.
- Maintain quality control. Establish checkpoints for moisture, temperature, and visual quality during transfers.
- Address grain bin safety (PDF). Never enter bins alone; use a lifeline (PDF) and trained observer.
- Implement lockout/tagout systems (PDF) on equipment. For plugged sumps or bridged grain, use professional salvage services.
Successful harvest operations require maintaining grain quality and proactively managing risk to protect your people, operation and livelihood. Nationwide offers resources and support beyond traditional insurance for proactive risk management.