Moisture is another critical factor in grain storage. Too much moisture can lead to mould growth, and spoilage, while too little moisture can result in drying out and loss of weight. Maintaining appropriate moisture levels in grain storage facilities requires proper grain aeration, temperature control, and moisture monitoring to prevent spoilage and ensure grain quality.

Temperature control is crucial in grain storage to prevent grain spoilage and insect activity. If grains are stored in conditions that are too warm, it can accelerate the growth of insects and microorganisms, leading to spoilage. Conversely, if grains are stored in conditions that are too cold, it can result in condensation and mould growth. Proper insulation, ventilation, and temperature monitoring are essential to maintain the right temperature for grain storage.

Grain quality is critical for marketability and profitability. Factors such as moisture content, foreign material, and damaged grains can affect the quality of stored grains. Regular quality monitoring, through sample analysis helps to identify risks to allow effective grain preservation methods to be implemented. 

One of the biggest challenges in grain storage is preventing pest infestation. Insects, rodents, and other pests can damage grains, reducing their quality and market value. Controlling pests in grain storage facilities requires proper sanitation practices, regular monitoring, and the use of insecticides and rodenticides.

Another challenge in grain storage is having enough storage capacity to accommodate the harvested grains. To properly aerate and ventilate silos, they cannot be over loaded with material. Inadequate storage capacity can result in spoilage or the need for alternative storage solutions, which may not be ideal for maintaining grain quality. Proper planning for storage capacity, including estimating grain volumes, and investing in adequate storage infrastructure, is essential to avoid storage challenges. 

Grain storage facilities can also pose safety and health risks for workers. Hazards such as dust explosions, toxic gases, and working in confined spaces can result in accidents, injuries, or, in extreme cases, fatalities. Implementing proper safety protocols, providing adequate training to workers, and using appropriate safety equipment are essential to mitigate these risks.

Extreme weather conditions like high humidity, floods, or storms, can impact grain storage. These factors can cause moisture increase, damage storage infrastructure, and affect grain quality. Implementing measures such as proper sealing, waterproofing, and disaster preparedness plans can help mitigate the impact of environmental factors on grain storage. 

Compliance with local, state, and federal regulations related to grain storage, such as environmental regulations, food safety standards, and building codes, can also be challenging. Keeping up-to-date with regulations and ensuring compliance can require additional effort, resources, and expertise.

To create a customised and effective grain preservation plan, it is important to understand the current status of a storage location. To start, I propose that you answer the following questions:

• What are your current storage conditions, including temperature, humidity and aeration?
• What are the moisture levels, and are they within the recommended range for the specific type of grain being stored?
• Are you aware of the current microbial load in your grain bulk?
• Are there any visible signs of spoilage, such as mould growth, bad odours or discoloration in the grains?
• What is the duration of your storage?

Before storing grains, make sure that the storage area is clean and free from any debris, dirt, insects, etc. This is particularly important when a previous batch of grain stored in the silo was contaminated. It may be necessary to fumigate the area before storing new grains.

While grains are best stored between 10^ᵒ C and 15^ᵒ C, realistically, this is not always possible. Nevertheless, it is important to know that temperatures above 30^ᵒ C significantly increase the spoilage rate. Proper aeration and ventilation need to be in place before grains are stored.  

Perhaps an obvious precaution is the importance of rotating grains, though in practice it is not always as easy as it seems, especially in flat storage facilities. Older stock needs to be used up before new grains are added.

Finally, I would always advise handling grains with care. Every time grains are handled or transported, there is a risk of damaging the outer skins, which leaves the delicate inner core unprotected against invading microbes or pests. When there is a lot of grain damage, it is advisable to treat the grains with effective organic acid solutions that also help prevent recontamination further along the feed production process.

To determine if treatment of grains is needed, and which treatment is best, it is important to be aware of the microbial load upon receipt of the grains. This is especially important since microbes such as moulds can already negatively impact quality without being visible and can only be discovered through sample analysis.

Preservation with a synergistic blend of specific organic acids drastically reduces microbial load and helps protect against further deterioration and recontamination. This will help safeguard the nutritional value and extend the shelf life of your grains.

However, moulds that were already present in the grain could have already excreted mycotoxins. These toxins cannot be deactivated by organic acids (or even heat treatment in most cases) and need specific mycotoxin mitigation agents to prevent a negative impact on animal health and performance.

Once grains are stored, monitoring becomes even more important to understand their quality and its possible degradation. Constant monitoring through temperature and moisture sensors in the silos help to detect early signs of microbial development so that measures can be taken. A spike in temperature, for example, is a clear indication that you need to adjust the ventilation or aeration.

In addition to monitoring with sensors, I would recommend that you take samples at different parts of the storage area to allow for a clear picture of the grain conditions. Look for signs of spoilage, such as mould growth, discolouration, a musty smell, or evidence of insect or rodent infestation. If there are clear indications of microbe development or pests, you may need to treat the stored grains. This is usually done by spraying the grains with organic acid blends, such as Fylax Grain, while they are on the transportation line to another storage silo.