Grain Drying Case Study - Sotterley Farm

Calor has helped a farmer crop the time needed to dry his grain from months to weeks.

Simon Thompson has slashed the time needed to dry wheat and oil seed rape, by replacing an old ambient drying system with one based around a Constant Humidity Controller powered by Calor’s liquefied petroleum gas or LPG.

And the move has meant that Simon, who manages 2,500 acres near Beccles in Suffolk, can harvest grain at a higher moisture content enabling a timely completion of his harvest, even in wet seasons.

Grain has to be stored with a moisture content of no more than 14.5 per cent, or it risks suffering end user rejection through fungal damage or insect infestation.

Traditionally it has been dried "ambiently" – using natural airflows through a building. However, Sotterley Farm’s Calor LPG-powered unit heats the air and automatically maintains it at a set humidity.

Simon, who manages Sotterley Farm, saw within his first year of management the need to change to a CHC unit. He said: "The CHC unit means drying only takes two to three weeks per shed – it could take two to three months with the old ambient system if the weather was bad.

"The LPG-powered unit means that I keep air humidity at exactly 65 per cent, perfect for drying cereals properly. It also means I can reduce combine capacity knowing I have the back up of a superior drying system," he adds.

The Harvest Installations CHC unit at Sotterley Farm was fitted by Ben Burgess. The three storey unit has also been fitted out with electrically-powered fans and 1,300 square metres of wooden flooring.

Simon added: "I decided against an oil or diesel-powered unit because I was concerned that fumes might taint the grain, making it difficult to sell. I went against getting an electrically-powered CHC because it would be far more expensive to run."

Three 1,000 litre Calor tanks are installed at the farm and are regularly topped up to cope with
the increased demand during harvest time. Simon concluded: "Calor provided expert help and advice on the installation of the bulk tanks and we always receive deliveries promptly - we’ve never been let down."

Calor has found that farmers are increasingly switching to LPG-fired grain drying systems out of a mixture of efficiency, cost and peace of mind. The company’s Jeff Penfold points out that business is increasing as farmers replace ageing and inefficient diesel and paraffin-based systems, as well as from farmers moving straight from ambient to technology-driven solutions.

He adds: "The main reasons farmers are attracted to LPG is efficiency and cost saving. Electricity is expensive and many oil-based systems just throw heat out. LPG systems, however, measure the moisture in the air and regulate burning to top up the heat that’s already there, to the required level.

"Calor LPG doesn’t just dry well – it gives peace of mind."