Developing on-farm grain drying strategies for optimum quality and energy efficiency

Term: 3 years, beginning in 2021

Status: Ongoing

Funding Amount: $92,307.00

Lead Researcher(s): Dr. Chandra Singh (Lethbridge College)

Funding Partners: Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC), Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR), Alberta Innovates (AI)

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Project Description

Grain producers have suffered significant production and economic losses due to adverse weather condition during recent harvests. Such huge risks to the crops can be minimized by harvesting crops as soon as they reach physiological maturity and grain can be artificially dried to safe storage moisture levels. However, inefficient drying can lead to grain spoilage, quality degradation, and excessive energy consumption resulting in increased drying cost and high shrink due to over-drying. Therefore, growers should be provided with tools to make informed decisions and select appropriate drying strategies to minimize spoilage risk, ensure timely and uniform drying with optimum quality, and high energy efficiency. In-bin natural air drying (with optional low temperature heater) and high temperature drying and combination drying (using high temperature drying followed by in-bin natural air drying) will be investigated to develop wheat storage and handling guidelines for increased energy efficiency, timely and uniform drying and optimum milling and baking quality of dried wheat. These storage and handling guidelines will be also useful in postharvest preservation of other major cereal grains, oil seeds and pulses.