Aeration Guide: Use of Aeration Fan Controllers in HRWW

Step 1. Determine immediately after harvest if aeration is useful.

• If wheat will be shipped within two months, do not aerate (unless the grain is wet or heating. If so, operate fans by hand.)

Step 2. Determine whether to aerate immediately after harvest.

• If wheat temperature is lower than 90ºF, skip the after-harvest cycle.
• If wheat temperature is greater than 90ºF and if the wheat is to be held at least 2 months, aerate immediately after harvest.

Step 3. First aeration cycle, immediately after harvest.

• Set the aeration controller to 74ºF.
• Record grain temperatures every 20-25 fan-hrs, or every 2nd day.
• Turn the main control to “off” as soon as the cooling is complete

Step 4. Second aeration cycle. If a second cycle is done…

• Set the thermostat to 60ºF.
• Repeat the procedure as in the first cycle, above.

General
If airflow is upwards, start aeration when the bin is at least 1/3 full.

If airflow is downwards, start aeration only after filling has stopped.

In a wide bin (diameter greater than 1/3 the height), the grain surface must be made reasonably level. This can be done by flattening the grain peak with shovels or by removing about 5% of the grain through the center trap.

Do not expect the grain to become as cool as the air. Usually, dry wheat will cool to 78 - 84ºF when the thermostat is set at 74ºF.

High-humidity aeration air minimizes moisture shrink in dry, hot wheat.

Constant aeration is recommended only if there is a layer of grain with high moisture content (greater than 13.5 %) or is heating. This grain should be shipped within a month. If immediate shipment is not an option, it should be blended with wheat containing less than 12% m.c. before cooling.

Note: This page is specific for locations south of Interstate 70. North of I-70, the initial temperature should be 70ºF.
Suggestion: Print, laminate, and keep in the control box.