Big Trouble Brewing for Beans By Bill Casady

Wet soybeans going into the bin now are not only wet, but frozen. This spells big trouble. But with careful management, we can avoid some of it. The problem is that the beans won’t all stay frozen. With changes in weather, some will thaw and be wet again. Have you noticed how, even on a cold day, a vehicle sitting in the sun will be warm to the touch? The outside of a storage bin behaves the same way. Sitting in the strong sunlight, the outside of a bin on a 32-degree day can keep you toasty warm by noon. It’s also nice and warm inside the bin — perhaps 70 or 80 degrees. Fungi need only 50 degrees to begin growing. As they grow, fungi make their own heat. Within a week, you could easily have a Holiday Mess on your hands under some scenarios.

We can’t predict the exact scenario for any single case, and everyone will have their own scenario, but we know that high-moisture soybeans are at risk. Getting a handle on the actual moisture content is important, so take a cold sample and seal it in a plastic bag or canning jar. Allow the sample to warm above 40 degrees or so, and then test it. Have your sample tested also by professionals to be sure. Make sure to keep the sample sealed until it is tested and then replace the sample in sealed storage if you plan to have it tested again at your local elevator.

Bill Casady, Agricultural Engineering
(573) 882-4370