The UK is well known for its unreliable weather, providing rain when you wish for sun and vice versa. This makes crops liable to either becoming too dry or too moist, leading to complications further down the line. Therefore, moisture content within the agricultural industry is a highly important issue, affecting grains and their respective products, such as barley, wheat, peas, beans and cereals. These issues include:
- Risk of rapid deterioration and spoilage if the grain is stored in a condition that is too wet
- Risk of handling damage, insects and mould if the grain is stored in a condition that is too dry
- Extra drying costs to counteract the high moisture content
- ‘Shrinkage’, weight loss and risk of ‘shattering’ if the grain is subjected to over-drying
- Overall lower quality produce and a potential loss of harvestable produce
As these factors all lead to a significant loss in profit, (and we have not as of yet managed to build a successful weather machine!), there is a requirement for strict monitoring systems to analyse and control the moisture levels of our crops.
The most common technique used in the past has been the ‘oven-dry test’, a very slow method that involves multiple, lengthy steps and may leave you wasting a substantial portion of grain in the process.
The newest advancement in sensor technology is the grain moisture tester, a fully automatic and calibrated piece of equipment that allows you to quickly and efficiently track the weight and temperature of your crops, lowering the risk of the issues mentioned above.
Not only does this technology increase the speed of analysis but allows you to accurately calculate the drying costs for your produce, significantly reducing your energy costs and providing a consistent and repeatable measuring technique that cannot be replicated in the oven-dry test.
At OMNI, we offer the FSA grain moisture tester, a bespoke amalgamation of sensor expertise that uses infrared technology for increased accuracy. The FSA comes pre-calibrated for 20 different types of grain or produce. Coupled with the customer-centric capability to add any special crops you may require; the moisture tester has all you need to efficiently control your crops.
To find out more about this product, click here.
For any other enquires, please do not hesitate to contact us.
