Sunflower and Oilseed Storage Stored Products Research and

Sunflower and Oilseed Storage Stored Products Research and Education Center Oklahoma State University Carol Jones Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

Storage Concerns • • • Sunflower Canola Soybean Sesame Safflower

Storage Concerns • Moisture Content – Sunflower: 8 – 10% mc • Hulls dry faster than kernels • Overnight in a sealed jar – Canola: 10 – 12% mc – Soybeans: 12%. . . seed at 10% – Sesame: less than 6% – Safflower: 5 – 8%

Storage Concerns Why so dry? ? ? ? Rancidity in Oklahoma heat Oil content = microbial activity Oil content = heat Sweat period

Storage Concerns Sunflower: hulls have hair-like fibers can cause increase fire danger test weight 28 – 32 lb/bu. . . cover when hauling low speed augers to prevent damage

Storage Concerns Canola: • seed is VERY small, hard to handle • sweat period is about 6 weeks • test weight 52 lbs/bu • oil content 40 – 50% • begin aeration immediately

Storage Concerns Soybeans: • using a dryer? Keep air above 40% rh and around 85 degrees F. . • maybe ambient will work • run augers as full and slow as possible • test weight 60 lbs/bu • aerate once a month after initial cooling

Storage Concerns Sesame: • Much like handling canola except. . . • Planted in spring, harvested in fall • Takes longer to dry in windrow than canola • Fewer inputs than canola • High fat (50% oil), 25% protein, 43 – 47 lb/bu • Small flat seed • Goes rancid quickly in heat at MC > 6%

Storage Concerns Safflower: • 38 lb/bu test weight • 34 – 36% oil content • Seeds are white • Harvested and handled much like canola • Dries very quickly in windrows

Special Characteristics • Bins with perforated floors work best • Ambient air/fan sufficient for drying/cooling • No aeration? ? ? Move between bins

Prepare Bins for Storage • Floor perforations must be protected – Line bottom of bins • two layers of aluminum window screen • trampoline tarpaulin • Leave opening for grain unloading

Store Clean Canola • Debris can add moisture and attract insects • Clean using – scalper aspiration – indent cylinder cleaning – sieve screening • Clean to less than 2. 3% foreign material

Temperature and Moisture • Optimum temperature is 55°F • Double storage time for every 10° below 77° and 1% reduction in moisture below 9% No spoilage for at least 5 months Optimum storage Spoilage after 5 months

Temperature • Above 77°F – Free fatty acids may form when stored longer than a year (1 -1. 5% limit) and causes rancidity – peroxide levels increase – oil darkens – Insect activity increases

Molds • Mold forms above 60% equilibrium relative humidity (ERH) ERH and temperature influence on seed moisture content (NDSU 2005) (40% seed oil content) Temperature °F ERH % 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 20 4. 9 4. 5 4. 1 3. 8 3. 6 3. 4 3. 2 30 6. 5 5. 9 5. 5 5. 1 4. 8 4. 5 4. 3 40 8. 1 7. 4 6. 8 6. 3 6. 0 5. 6 5. 3 50 9. 6 8. 8 8. 1 7. 6 7. 1 6. 8 6. 4 60 11. 3 10. 3 9. 6 9. 0 8. 4 8. 0 7. 6 70 13. 1 12. 1 11. 2 10. 5 10. 0 9. 3 8. 9 80 15. 4 14. 2 13. 2 12. 3 11. 6 11. 0 10. 5 90 18. 6 17. 2 16. 0 15. 0 14. 2 13. 5 12. 8 Shaded area shows moisture content for optimum conditions

Aeration • • • Bin must have aeration system Full floor perforation is best Positive pressure is preferred Grain surface should be leveled Airflow rates for temperature management – 0. 08 – 0. 15 cfm/bu – At 0. 08 cfm, up to 150 -200 hours for a 20° drop • Airflow rates for natural air drying – 0. 4 – 2. 0 cfm/bu – increase static air pressure – run fans continuously until desired moisture

Aeration • Static pressure – Sunflower • 30 Ft. deep at 1. 0 cfm/bu. . . 15. 1 inches – for canola is 2 -3 times that of wheat • 30 ft. deep at 1. 0 cfm/bu. . . 75 inches!!!! • 10 ft. deep at 1. 0 cfm/bu. . . 7 inches – Soybeans • 30 ft. deep at 1. 0 cfm/bu. . . 7. 7 inches – Sesame • Similar to canola – Safflower • “Less than most other grains”

KEY THOUGHTS. . . • • Monitor bins closely. . . weekly Temp control + MC control + insect control = SUCCESSFUL OILSEED STORAGE

Insect Pests Found in Bins • Very few insects were found • Those found included: – – – Rusty grain beetle Red flour beetle Lesser grain borer Indianmeal moth Booklice • Predatory mites were also found

Oilseeds. . the market • • Another option Rotation Biodiesel Crusher in OKC

Questions? BIOSYSTEMS. OKSTATE. EDU/HOME/JCAROL