Storage & Transport
Canola combined hot requires aeration

Sept. 3, 2013 - The continued warm weather plaguing Western Canada means canola could go in the bin very hot.

The Canola Council of Canada (CCC) recommends that hot canola be put on aeration for cooling, even if it's dry. There will still be convection currents and some moisture movement within the bin, which can concentrate moisture at the bottom of the central core — creating a possible start point for heating.

Aeration will also even out the temperature and moisture throughout the bin, preventing these hot spots from occurring.

The CCC says the risk is even higher with larger bins, due to less surface area relative to the volume, meaning natural cooling takes longer. The core will hold that heat longer if not aerated, and larger bins take more loads to fill them so there is a greater chance a load or two might be over eight per cent.

When using aeration to cool canola that is very dry, fans can be shut off during the day and turned on at night when air is cooler.

Monitoring bins frequently is even more critical, especially during the first few weeks when warm seed may be respiring rapidly. Growers should ensure that temperatures throughout the bin are at least stable or hopefully falling over time.

Ensure your moisture meter is working, as they do tend to lose accuracy. Test a few samples each year on your home tester and then on the elevator's tester to see how they compare.

September 3, 2013  By Top Crop Manager