Avonlea Recommendations/Planning Your Storage System Site
If you are starting a new storage site:
THINK BIG!!!!! Be sure to start a new site with twice as much room around it as you think you will need. In the last 15 years on our farm we have gone from single axle trucks, to tandem axle trucks, to semi-trailer trucks. In addition to that, custom haulers are in our yard with Super B’s. It doesn’t take very long for a big yard to look small.
Avoid being too close to shelterbelts. As trees grow they will limit access to the back of the bins. The shade created by these trees may also limit the amount of natural air drying that you can do.
Decide what your long-term plans are for this site. Do you want to have drag conveyors above and below the bins for central loading and unloading? Do you plan to clean the grain at this site? All of these issues will affect how you design your site.
What combination of large flat bottom bins (10,000 - 50,000 bus) and work bins(2,000 - 10,000 bus hopper bins) will best suit your needs today. Be sure to allow for expansion on all sides of your site as your needs will change in the future.
Budget your storage system in a 3 to 5 year project and start with the most important components first.
If you are adding to an existing storage site:
Sometimes it is cheaper to trade in smaller existing bins and replace them with new larger bins. This can increase storage capacity without too much extra space required.
If you have space around an existing bin site do a long-term plan of your storage needs. Will this site provide all of the flexibility you will need in the future?
