There’s a phrase that planning ahead of time is the best way to ensure farming success. No matter what you do, if you fail to plan properly, you prepare to fail. When it comes to agriculture, there’s a lot to plan. From planning for unexpected weather conditions to grain storage. For farmers, it’s important to plan for their future grain storage. They need to decide whether they want to rely on bulk handling companies or invest in on-farm storage. Planning storage early in the year is the best option to avoid last-minute panic. 

On-Farm Grain Storage

When it comes to grain storage, farmers often wonder if they should invest in on-farm grain bins or continue to use commercial storage services. On-farm storage is increasingly becoming popular due to the number of benefits it offers. Bulk handling firms have been storing and distributing grain for producers for many years. And, while they offer a useful service, the demand for commercial storage is decreasing. These commercial storage firms can suit the storage needs of small-scale producers because the expenditure is often less and the product handover convenient. However, in the long run, they just don’t stand a chance compared to the plethora of benefits connected with On-farm Storage.

On-farm storage is an investment that can provide significant returns for years to come. Investing in on-farm grain bins means removing the ‘middleman’ of Bulk Handling. It helps in saving the costs connected with Post Harvest Logistics and Freight. While there’s an initial cost involved, in the long run, you can save a lot of money which results in increasing the profitability of the producer. Let’s check out some more benefits of on-farm grain storage. 

Benefits of On-Farm Grain Bins 

As you know, the market prices of grains keep fluctuating, rising, and dropping. When grains are stored on-farm, you get the freedom to decide when, where, and to whom to sell your grains. This flexibility isn’t always available through Bulk Handling businesses. The main advantage of on-farm storage is the flexibility that comes with marketing grain when farmers want it. Selling grains around harvest is the worst time because high supply drives prices down. On-farm storage expands cash grain marketing options beyond those available at harvest. This flexibility enables farmers to gain more profit by selling grains when demand is higher which has a favorable financial impact. On-farm grain bins allow farmers to dry and store their surplus until the market is more viable for selling. This helps them stabilize their revenue by waiting for prices to rise.

On-farm grain storage is also a good way to offset the high cost of freight during harvest. During harvest, the demand for freight increases considerably, and so does the price. When farmers wait to sell the grains, it also means waiting for freight rates to fall which reduces the freight costs. Another benefit of on-farm grain storage is peace of mind. No matter how experienced a farmer you are, it’s impossible to accurately predict the weather. Installing on-farm grain storage bins helps in preventing grain losses caused by natural calamities.