Here are four tips to make the 2022 harvest run smooth and safe here in the next two months.

1. Check your fields – This year’s corn crop is maturing fast, because of the dry hot summer. At black layer, the corn is about 30 percent moisture and will dry down depending on the temperature. General weather average field dry down:
   • September – 4 to 5 points per week
   • October – 2 points per week
   • November – 1 point per week
   This year, much of the corn will mature in early September allowing for fast moisture loss by early October.
2. Check the bin floor – The bin floor should be clean and at least 8 inches of space between the floor and the fines under it. When it is filled with fines, the airflow is reduced and often more uneven. Check for insects in the fines, especially Indian meal moths that will plug the floor with webbing from their cocoons. If the space is too tight or the insects are present, clean them out. This might mean pulling the floor, which is a big job.
3. General maintenance – Use a good silicone caulk to seal the bin to the foundation and any small leaks, so that the air goes through the grain. Check the electrical system to make sure everything works from fans to spreaders. Start the burner on the heaters to be sure they will start. If fans have belts, make sure they are tight and in good shape. Also, check to make sure the stalks are strong and plan the harvest to get as much into the bins and reduce field loss.
4. Cool the grain – Early harvests don’t lend themselves to cooling the grain as night temps might remain high. As soon as the night temps are below 40 degrees, the fans need to run to get all of the grain below 40 degrees to keep through the winter. It only takes 1/10 of a cfm to cool a bushel of grain in 24 hours. A 1hp fan can cool 2,000 bushels a day. A 10hp fan can cool 20,000 bushels a day.
   This year looks like an early harvest start, so get prepared and please keep safety in mind.