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Determining Grain Moisture Content: Do You Need
A Moisture Meter?
A Moisture Meter?
Each different type of grain has a standard bushel weight at a specific moisture
content. These are:
Corn (shelled) – 56 lbs. at 15.5% moisture
Oats – 32 lbs. at 14% moisture
Wheat – 60 lbs. at 13.5% moisture
Barley – 48 lbs. at 14.5% moisture
Ideally, the grain you burn should be closer to 12% for maximum burning efficiency.
Each additional 1% in dryness or moisture adds or subtracts approximately 90 Btu's of
heat value per pound.
Also, as moisture decreases, the kernels shrink allowing for more kernels to fill a
volume bushel. Below is a table provided by North Dakota State University illustrating
the relationship between weight and moisture.
content. These are:
Corn (shelled) – 56 lbs. at 15.5% moisture
Oats – 32 lbs. at 14% moisture
Wheat – 60 lbs. at 13.5% moisture
Barley – 48 lbs. at 14.5% moisture
Ideally, the grain you burn should be closer to 12% for maximum burning efficiency.
Each additional 1% in dryness or moisture adds or subtracts approximately 90 Btu's of
heat value per pound.
Also, as moisture decreases, the kernels shrink allowing for more kernels to fill a
volume bushel. Below is a table provided by North Dakota State University illustrating
the relationship between weight and moisture.
Test weight variation due to moisture content.
---------------------------------------
Moisture Content Test Weight
Grain (%) (lbs.)
---------------------------------------
Corn 13.5 57.33
15.5 56.00
17.5 54.67
Wheat 11.5 61.39
13.5 60.00
15.5 58.61
---------------------------------------
Moisture content also determines the length of time loose, non-bagged grain can
safely be stored. Improperly stored grain will turn moldy, clump together, and jam the
auger that feeds grain into the fuel pot. From the table below, it's readily apparent
how an increase in moisture of only a few percentage points will quickly decrease the
shelf life of corn.
safely be stored. Improperly stored grain will turn moldy, clump together, and jam the
auger that feeds grain into the fuel pot. From the table below, it's readily apparent
how an increase in moisture of only a few percentage points will quickly decrease the
shelf life of corn.
| Farmex 16 grain moisture tester |
Need help determining the moisture content of the grain you're
looking to buy? - get yourself a moisture meter. But hold on for a
second. Is it really worth the $200 cost?
That depends on where you buy your grain. If you're buying in
bulk from a local farmer or grain elevator operator it only makes
sense to test the moisture content before you contract for a
seasonal load of two or three tons. I would also suggest
re-testing the grain or corn before it's off-loaded from the truck
into your storage facility.
On the other hand, if you buy 50 lb bags of grain through a local
stove dealer, chances are they will guarantee the moisture
content, making the purchase of a testing meter unnecessary.
For example, in my neck of the woods, Cape Cod Stove
guarantees their bagged #1 corn to have a moisture content of
14% or less.
looking to buy? - get yourself a moisture meter. But hold on for a
second. Is it really worth the $200 cost?
That depends on where you buy your grain. If you're buying in
bulk from a local farmer or grain elevator operator it only makes
sense to test the moisture content before you contract for a
seasonal load of two or three tons. I would also suggest
re-testing the grain or corn before it's off-loaded from the truck
into your storage facility.
On the other hand, if you buy 50 lb bags of grain through a local
stove dealer, chances are they will guarantee the moisture
content, making the purchase of a testing meter unnecessary.
For example, in my neck of the woods, Cape Cod Stove
guarantees their bagged #1 corn to have a moisture content of
14% or less.
Personally, I think $200 is little pricey for a moisture meter but probably worth the
investment over time if you purchase large quantities of bin-run grain.
investment over time if you purchase large quantities of bin-run grain.