Wheat harvest is just beginning in Ontario, so it’s high time to make sure your grain storage and dryers are ready for this coming season! In our Ontario climate, grain dryers are an essential part of our production system, allowing us to grow longer-season crops and take advantage of yield benefits, while still being able to dry crops down for long-term storage.
Dryers represent a significant investment, both in capital costs and operating expenses. A study from Iowa State revealed that drying is responsible for 1/3 of the total fuel energy needed to grow and produce a crop – including all field operations, and fertilizer production. And that energy gets used up in a matter of hours!
If you own a grain dryer, researchers at the University of Guelph want to hear from you. Help us better understand issues like grain dryer energy use, as well as other concerns like noise or dust impacts on neighbours. We want you to tell us what grain drying looks like on your farm, how you use your dryer, and your experiences and concerns.
All we need is 10 minutes of your time to complete a short survey. Individual results are anonymous, and no identifying business or personal information is requested. A summary of the survey results will be shared on Field Crop News once the study is complete. And, if you complete the survey, you can choose to enter into a draw for one of several $25 Tim Horton’s gift cards.
Follow this link to access the survey: https://www.uoguelph.ca/engineering/dryers