Check Your Bins! Monitor On-Farm Storage to Reduce Risk

Tip #4: Store Your Crop Properly

You worked hard to bring in your crop, but factors like high-moisture seed put stored canola at higher risk. Protect your stored canola by checking your bins frequently and following practices to reduce storage risk.

Canola that is in storage following a delayed harvest can be at a higher risk than usual due to high moisture seed, elevated green seed and other quality factors.

The Canola Council recommends checking bins frequently and following these best management practices for safe storage:

• Cold temperatures are your friend! Achieve uniform, cold temperatures throughout the bulk, ideally well below zero.
• Monitor your bins regularly. With any detectable temperature rise, move at least one-third out of the bin.
• Do not blend tough/damp canola with dry canola on-farm – it’s too risky.
• Condition as soon as possible in the spring, as soon as ambient temperatures allow for drying.

For additional details and to answer any questions about safe canola storage, check with your CCC agronomy specialist.

Please refer to the following resources about storing canola for more information:

• https://www.canolacouncil.org/canola-watch/fundamentals/factors-that-increase-canola-storage-risk/
• https://www.canolacouncil.org/canola-watch/fundamentals/how-to-check-bins-for-spoilage/
• https://www.canolacouncil.org/canola-watch/fundamentals/conditioning-tips-for-stored-canola/
• https://www.canolacouncil.org/canola-encyclopedia/storage/

By keeping an eye on your bins and taking these steps to maintain the quality of your stored canola you can protect both its marketability and your investment.