Long Term Grain Storage

[gregb]

My better half has proposed that we consider the opportunity involved in rice storage. As I believe the long term outlook of rice, like most commodities, is upwards, I am considering this proposal.

However, since I am not content to let the Thai way take its course, I'm trying to understand what is really necessary to do this right. While what my wife has in mind is something that could store rice for a year to better take advantage of the peaks and dips, my interest is in something a bit more interesting...say storage on the order of 5 years or longer.

This is, of course, a much more difficult proposition. I am looking for a small scale storage facility (say around 50-100 tons), that can dry the grain to less than 8% and keep it well preserved over a very long time. Energy consumption is a serious issue here...I need something that is very energy efficient. I have found several manufacturers of equipment in Thailand by googl'ing, but nobody seems to make farm scale equipment. Everybody wants to do it at industrial scale.

While this obviously maximizes profits for them, I have my own motives and don't feel this is practical for my purposes.

Does anyone have any experience with rice silos? Does anyone know of a small manufacture or mom and pop shop that makes equipment for smaller guys? How about making the silo myself? The structure is easy enough, but the dryer and ventilation systems seem like they might require some engineering. I'm sure I can learn given time, but I was hoping someone here could offer some advice.

Thanks for any assistance.

[slapout]

50 to 100 tons of grain is not a lot so you have a couple options for storage that are widely used by large farmers in North America. Steel grain bins, which are bolted to cement floors and are assembaled from bottom up (bolted together) They are water tight and rodent proof and come in various sizes depending on your needs. Another option is a cement floor warehose type building where you install wooden walls in the area to used for grain storage (size depends on amount of grain)This set up is not rodent proof, cats will work but grain would require cleaning prior to selling to people you know or like. The most effeciant way to dry grain that has too high a mositure content is to move it via a grain augar, and thus expose it to air. With the grain bin system you would augar grain out via door (made for this) and after all has been removed, augar it back into bin via top fill hole. Warehouse drying would be done by same principal. We used to take new cut wheat, 14% mositure, and move it 1 or 2 times to get mositure to 11 to 12% for storage. Steel tanks for water or oil storage have been used for grain storage many times. These are built in Thailand. The grain augar can run off of a small gas or diesel engine, electric motor via v belts, or pto system. These should also be avaliable here, but I would not know where. Same goes for mositure content meter for grain. Good luck

[Pond Life]

Just some thoughts, I know nothing about rice other than how to cook it.

How much of a price change do you hope to see ?

a 1 baht increase on 100 ton makes you 100,000 baht, enough to cover costs & be worth the effort ?

What is the quality of the rice going to be after 5 yrs ? how long is it usualy stored for ?

[slapout]

Grain can be stored for several years if it is kept dry, rodent free and weevil free. They have liquid treatment for weevils etc and if you move grain as discribed above at the end of 5 years you will still have the same quality grain as when you started, maybe a few more cracked kernnals.

[Maizefarmer]

Gregb- I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the engineering/setup side of it is going to be the easy part.

The bulk rice storage business in Thailand is politicized through & through, legislated to the brim and a "closed circle" controlled to its core by politicians and organised crime.

Let me put it this way: I would not think anyone is going to risk attracting attention to themsleves for bothering an ex-pat and his partner who set up a 50 - 100 - 200 ton storage facility (only because by rice storage standards that is small and you are not going to not get rich storing that amount of rice - which is precisouly why you will be left alone)- but get into whatever the quantities are that are financialy significant, and you will find sellers whoever they are - from farmers to local bulk agents being "gently" encouraged not to do business with you - and they way it will be done is that the very people who don't like your presence will be the same folk who will control the price which the rice gets sold to you at - thereby using you to make their profit straight away - and that will quickly undermine your business plan.

Maize, yes - Cassava, yes ... and other grain crops - but rice? mmmmmm, think it through real carefully before making any commtitement.

Edited March 15, 2008 by Maizefarmer

[finner]

Hi gregb, just thought I'd add some details to your question since my girlfriend does this on a very small scale and wants to do more of it since the concept buy low, sell high does work even on the farm. First, you or someone you know have to belong to the local Co-op (Sahat Kon Kow) to be able to sell the rice at regular prices. As mentioned, other farmers may be jealous but just keep a low profile (try 100 tonnes) and you should be OK. The GF tells me that if you leave the husks on, there won't be a weevil (mo-ot, sounds like mot for ant but with a long o) problem. They buy the rice in bags called kasops, about 70 Kg each, but take it out because the material deteriorates and it's not so easy to control mice. She monitors the rice moisture content and quality before she buys it and because she belongs to the co-op her word about what she sells is accepted, after they check it themselves of course. Now I'm just a city boy and some things I say may not be cover all areas of Thailand but hope it'll help.