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Farmers turning to technology in grain bins
Technology is keeping stored grain and farmers safe.
Joel Morgan, owner of northern Illinois-based Morgan Millwright Services, says maintaining stored grain through the winter is one of the most dangerous jobs on the farm.
“Traditionally you would need to go in the bin to check it regularly to make sure it’s in condition, which is dangerous.” He says, “We want people to stay out of bins.”
He tells Brownfield advancements in grain monitoring technology are making the task safer.
“We have temperature and moisture monitoring cables that can run the fans by themselves, and also there’s an app where you can look at the condition of the grain in the bin or it’ll send you text messages to let you know if there’s a problem that you need to move that grain or change something,” he says.
Morgan says stored grain is the equivalent of a farmer’s savings account and should be protected accordingly.
“It’s a big investment sitting in the bin and if a whole bin spoils, that’s a big loss,” he says.
Morgan spoke with Brownfield at the 2024 Greater Peoria Farm Show in Peoria, Illinois.
AUDIO: Joel Morgan