In times of market uncertainty and generally low prices, grain storage is a component of a grain marketing plan. Some keys to maintaining grain quality in storage are starting with a clean bin environment and monitoring and managing grain moisture. The longer grain needs to be stored, the drier it needs to be. Our 2019 cropping year, with a lot of late planted acres has meant that we have more variability in grain quality this year as compared to an average year.
There was a lot of grain, especially corn, harvested at higher moisture levels this year. Many producers may be in a situation that if grain is not carefully managed in storage, grain could deteriorate in quality, resulting in marketing discounts. Acknowledging this situation, OSU Extension is sponsoring a state-wide webinar on the topic of “Managing Stored Grain: 2019 Crop Considerations”. The featured speaker is Dr. Kenneth Hellevang, a grain storage and drying specialist with North Dakota State University. Among the information that Dr. Hellevang will share is how to manage high moisture and damaged grain in storage. This webinar will be held Friday, December 20 from 3:00 to 4:00 pm. There is no charge for the webinar, but you need to register on-line at go.osu.edu/StoredGrain, so that a webinar link can be sent to you.
For those producers interested in sharpening their grain marketing skills, OSU Extension Tuscarawas County is sponsoring a Grain Marketing Workshop on January 16 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at the Tuscarawas County Extension office in New Philadelphia. Ben Brown, Agricultural Risk Management specialist in the OSU Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics is the presenter. Ben will discuss strategies to help improve your grain marketing knowledge, skills and profitability. There is no charge for this workshop, but registration is requested to the Tuscarawas Extension office at 330-339-2337 no later than January 14.
Rory Lewandowski is an OSU Extension Agriculture & Natural Resources Educator and may be reached at 330-264-8722.
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