Future-proof grain drying plant fulfils increased grain handling requirements

Ian and Tom Jackson at Bowsden West Farm.

Ian Jackson farms a 1,000-hectare arable farm with son Tom in and around Bowsden in Northumberland, with cropping split 60/40% between winter and spring crops.

Having recently invested in a new grain drying system, the father and son team now work with an increased capacity for temporary storage of wet grain and higher levels of automation around drying crops before storage.

The Mecmar SSI 28 T electric mobile drier, supplied by McArthur Agriculture, continues to play an integral part in making the system cost-effective, flexible, and adaptable to the farm’s needs.

“When we took the decision to invest in a new 5,000t grain store to house a small grain drying plant which would allow us to add further automation features, we capitalised on the initial investment by refreshing our existing Mecmar with a new Mecmar SSI 28 T, electric, automatic, mobile drier with aspirator cleaner,” said Ian Jackson, adding her couldn’t fault either the drier or the supplier.

“The new grain store gave us the space to increase our capacity for the temporary storage of wet grain. We already had one 30t hopper and we purchased a second, enabling us to hold 60t of wet grain in front of the drier,” he continued.

When the new Mecmar and the two hoppers are full, the Jacksons can now dry and cool 84t of grain without operator intervention, allowing them to save on labour expenses during harvest.

Initially, the new Mecmar was located at the gable end of the grain store, which exposed the unit to the elements. To minimise losses due to bad weather, the Jacksons upgraded the store with an open-sided extension to provide shelter for the drier and the hoppers.

Other than providing a cost-effective grain drying solution, the Mecmar also conditions the grain as it is constantly moved around during the drying and cooling process, which helps improve bushel weight. Once dried, the grain is discharged into a heap inside the store and then pushed up with a loading shovel.

The Jacksons have plans to increase the automation of the plant in the future by introducing an incline conveyor, which would transfer grain from the drier to a top belt conveyor to ultimately deposit the produce at the required location within the store.

The new plant represents the initial step towards building a more automated grain handling solution at Bowsden Farm as it provides the opportunity to add further automation units without the need for a large capital outlay.

“I had worked with DMI Mechanical Engineers since 1996 and had a long and trusted relationship with its senior management which has carried on without interruption with the transition to the McArthur Agriculture team. The installation and ongoing services they have delivered has been faultless,” said Ian Jackson.

He added that working closely with McArthur Agriculture has delivered a plant that meets the farm’s exact requirements and that can also be adapted to future needs.

“But importantly, it is a flexible and adaptable solution, which, should the farming landscape significantly alter due to the unprecedented changes that are currently taking place across the agriculture sector, we could pack up the entire grain drying system and sell it, which would not be the case with other solutions.

“We really do have a plant that will allow us to take the business forward in whichever direction is necessary,” Ian Jackson concluded.