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Grain elevators have been a part of the farming landscape since the 1850s, when American farmers began to move beyond subsistence farming and towards selling their products nationwide. In the simplest terms, these buildings provide storage for bulk grain, but they are actually far more complex than meets the eye. They are vital to safely storing grain and helping ensure the quality of our food supply.

How Grain Elevators Work 

Once the grain is harvested and dried, it is stored in grain elevators until it can be shipped to a mill or refinery. Grain elevators are always located near railways or waterways to allow easy transportation. 

Grain is brought to the elevator by a truck from the farm. When the truck arrives, it’s weighed before it dumps the load into a “pit” on the work floor. From the pit, the grain is put into bins using a spout, and the bins are then moved continuously up to the top of the elevator (the cupola).

When it’s time to transport the grain for processing, the bins are emptied into shipping containers or trucks through a spout. Farmers are paid for their grain based on the weight of the load and the quality of the grain. Grain that is too wet or contains too much waste material lowers the price per bushel.

Types of Grain Elevators 

grain elevatorAll elevators operate typically by storing grain vertically to increase airflow (and thus reduce waste) and decrease the power and labor needed to process and move grain by taking advantage of gravity. However, there are two classes of grain elevators. The class depends on how the elevating machinery and storage bins are arranged within the building, what the elevator is made of, and the function of the elevator. For example, some elevators are designed strictly for storage, while others process grain for either human or animal consumption. 

The first class of grain elevator is the self-contained elevator. In this style, all of the machinery required to store and distribute the grain is located inside the main house, where the grain is received and processed into the bins that bring it to the upper levels of the elevator.

The second type is the annex grain elevator, which conveys grain horizontally in bins from the drop off point using a system of conveyors and spouts. The grain is moved from the annex to the main house, transferred to the storage bins, and then stored vertically. 

 

If you want to expand your farming operation with a grain elevator, or you simply need a drying shed or other agricultural storage equipment, contact Merritt Mechanical-Fabrication in Cairo, GA. An experienced, family-owned agricultural design and construction firm, they have worked with farmers and agricultural businesses in the southeastern United States for more than 50 years. To discuss your grain storage needs, fill out the form on their website or call (229) 377-5586 to speak with a representative. 

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