How Grain Quality Affects Storage

Grain quality has a direct impact on how long your crop can be stored and how much value it will retain by the time it’s marketed. Clean, sound grain stores longer and with fewer risks, while lower-quality grain requires closer management and often has a shorter safe storage life. 

Grain quality affects storage by: 

  • Increasing or reducing safe storage time 

  • Changing aeration and monitoring needs 

  • Affecting spoilage risks and heating potential 

  • Influencing marketability and grade 

With instant grain grading results, farmers and processors can quickly identify quality issues at harvest and make informed storage decisions before problems develop. 

Canadian Western Red Spring (CWRS) Wheat 

High-quality CWRS wheat with sound kernels and minimal sprout damage is generally stable in storage. However, sprouted or Fusarium-infected wheat has higher respiration rates, which increase the risk of heating and spoilage. Damaged kernels also create fines, restricting airflow and raising hotspot potential. 

How instant grading helps: Rapid results on sprout damage and Fusarium levels allow farmers to decide whether wheat can go into long-term storage, needs to be segregated, or should be marketed quickly. 

Oats 

Oats are sensitive in storage due to thin hulls. Intact, heavy oats are more stable, but lightweight or weather-stained oats deteriorate quickly and risk losing food-grade or milling premiums. 

How instant grading helps: Immediate feedback on test weight and kernel breakage helps direct oats into the right bin or onto the market before quality losses occur. 

Red Lentils 

Sound, uniform red lentils store relatively well. But cracked or bleached lentils break down faster, while uneven moisture creates risk for mould and discolouration. Storage instability can directly affect grade and market value. 

How instant grading helps: Fast identification of bleaching, cracks, or moisture damage allows farmers to condition or move lentils before storage losses threaten quality. 

Soybeans 

Soybeans are highly sensitive to moisture and mechanical damage. Intact soybeans store well if kept dry and cool, but split or broken beans increase risk of mould, heating, and insect activity. Even small amounts of damage can compromise a bin. 

How instant grading helps: Quick insight into splits, green count, and overall quality helps separate problem lots before storage, reducing the chance of spoilage spreading through a bin. 

Why Grain Quality and Instant Results Matter 

Safe storage starts with sound grain, but fast, accurate grading makes the difference.  

By knowing grain quality right at harvest, farmers and processors can: 

  • Place grain in the right bin 

  • Adjust aeration and handling for riskier lots 

  • Decide which crops should move sooner to market 

  • Protect value and reduce spoilage losses 

With automatic grain grading, storage decisions become proactive, not reactive helping ensure grain quality, grade, and value are preserved from bin to buyer. 

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5 Steps for Better Grain Sampling

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Meet the Factor: Splits in Soybeans