Grain value shifts store policy
Grain value shifts store policy
DISAPPOINTING premiums for better quality grain mean that growers installing new stores are shying away from bins and moving towards larger bulk stores, according to a southern equipment supplier.
"We are seeing a trend away from segregation of high quality specification commodities," Peter Webb of Wilts-based T * White said at Grain 99. "We think it is because of the small differentials, especially with malting barley."
Economies of scale keep driving most new installations, he said. "We are seeing fewer but larger, more well equipped stores usually incorporating high temperature continuous flow driers rather than in-bin or on-floor drying."
Automation, such as interlinked overload sensors allowing such machines to be run safely 24 hours a day, boosted their efficiency even further, added George OConnell of Suffolk-based installers Tripp Batt. "It means less firing up and shutting down."
Cleaners could make them even more efficient, said Mr OConnell. "But a cleaner is a two-edged sword because there arent any premiums for clean grain."
He confirmed the trend toward increasing scale, with grain intake a prime area for attention to keep pace especially with high capacity contractors combines. "It was very relevant in this years catchy harvest." *