• Preparing your installations: Preparing for a successful storage operation starts before harvest, by carefully cleaning and disinfecting the storage bins. It is essential to check and clean all nooks and crannies and equipment to eliminate dust and broken grain, then apply a preventive insecticide treatment.
  
  
  
• Managing the timing of the harvest:Controlling humidity at harvest is a general point of attention. For those who store, it is even more important. If it is too high, storage will begin with a very costly drying ventilation phase.
  If possible, the best time to harvest is to avoid both heat peaks and dew-related humidity peaks.



• Finding the right machine setting :the challenge is to find the right compromise to preserve the integrity of the grains and minimise the level of impurities.

The key to controlling the moisture content and temperature of the heap is to avoid overheating, which is conducive to the formation of mould and the development of insects. Controlling these parameters is crucial to avoid losses in the quality and value of the grain when it is marketed.

• Controlling humidity : A maximum moisture content for storage is defined for each grain variety. If it is not reached at harvest, it must be reached very quickly after being placed in the silo. If necessary, a drying operation must be carried out to remove the moisture from the grain.
  
  
  
• Controlling the temperature : The storage farmer must concentrate on lowering the temperature of his heap in stages, which is vital in preventing the risk of insects, at a time when the range of insecticides authorised for storage is dwindling. Arvalis recommends 3 ventilation stages.

Digital solutions are essential for successful grain storage. They range from simple thermometric probes to automated ventilation systems.

Monitoring the temperature is crucial to detecting any rise and enabling you to react in good time.

Automated ventilation systems offer a number of advantages: optimal intervention, reduced on-call time and differentiated batch management. They are more efficient than manual methods, reducing energy costs and the risks associated with insects.

The use of remote control applications further optimises management, enabling rapid reaction and continuous monitoring. Digitisation also facilitates traceability, which is essential for meeting the requirements of the industry and guaranteeing better remuneration.