Ask the Doctor: Proper Storage of Freezing Grain

Ask the Doctor: Proper Storage of Freezing Grain

AGI’s Dr. John Lawerence, a leading grain researcher, provides guidance for when it’s appropriate to freeze grain and how to see grain through winter into the spring.

Freezing grain is not the ideal situation. However, every farmer knows sometimes the best you can do is adapt to what mother nature throws at you. Read on to learn how to see your grain through the icy cold to see spring’s thaw.

1. If storing high moisture grain and unable to dry it down before winter settles in, when would be the best time to let it freeze?

Of course, freezing grain is not normally recommended; however, in some locations like North and South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin, it will happen no matter what simply due to harsh winter conditions. If the grain can be dried to a relative humidity below 80%, then it should be fine to freeze, that is it will freeze without forming a bridge or crust. For example, corn with a mositure content below 18-20% – depending on the equilibrium moisture content (EMC) of the specific hybrids – should be fine. If grain has been frozen, extra care should be taken when rewarming the grain to ensure it is down in 5°F intervals. For example, if the corn temperature is at 20°F, it should be warmed to 25°F and then 30°F and 35°F and so on. AGI BinManager’s Thaw Out Operation Mode takes this into consideration. It is best to start using this mode early in the spring to allow for gradual warming of grain. Please contact AGI Customer Support to check all weather requirements before putting systems into Thaw Out mode. An additional tip for Northern State farmers growing soybeans: Freezing may not be an issue for soybeans, especially at low moisture, typically below 11%. However, if you hydrate the beans in the fall to 13-14% moisture in the bottom layers they may freeze and end up caking.

2. Any do or don’ts for customers that are participating in fall hydration?

The first question to ask yourself before you start hydration is what is your target sell date. If you want to sell in May 2026, do not hydrate in the fall, period. If you do, you will end up with caking. However, if your sell date is December 2025, you can hydrate by selecting the “Auto Hydrate” mode in BinManager. The rule of thumb is to sell your grain within 3-4 weeks of hydrating to avoid the risk of spoilage.

3. Tips for maintaining grain through winter months if storing until Spring 2026:

The ideal practice of good grain storage management would be to dry grain to below 65% relative humidity (RH) if you are storing until the spring. However, due to weather conditions and delays in harvesting it may not be possible to dry to 65% RH in some locations. For that type of situation, if the corn moisture content is still in the 18-20% range, it is better to freeze the corn rather than keep it that higher moisture. Keeping the corn at higher than an 18-20% moisture range and a temperature range of 35-40°F without freezing may lead to blue-eye mold. During spring, we can thaw out the grain and continue drying down the grain.