March 29, 2024

Greater flexibility: Farmer adds to on-farm storage capacity

GRANVILLE, Ill. — Andy Gehm opted to be better prepared for weather-delayed and long, drawn-out harvests that create bottlenecks in the grain movement system.

For the past 17 years, Gehm has been adding on-farm storage that provides him with greater efficiency and flexibility at harvest.

The most recent addition was the installation of a 60-foot GSI bin with about 100,000 bushels of capacity along with a catwalk and conveyor that connect to the existing storage and drying system. This addition gives Gehm roughly 300,000 bushels of on-farm storage capacity.

Gehm’s path toward expanding his on-site storage began in 2003 when he met with Tom Quick of T&S Quick Enterprises, a GSI dealer in Blackstone.

“We came up with a plan to get some drying and storing capacity on the farm. Two 48-foot grain bins were erected in the spring of 2004 with holding capacities roughly of 60,000 bushels plus each. A dry leg and horizontal farm fan dryers were installed. I purchased an existing grain bin on the farm from my grandfather and we moved it to this site to use as a wet holding bin,” Gehm said.

The system worked well and in realizing the number of benefits for having on-farm storage and drying he had a third 48-foot bin with overhead conveyor and catwalk installed by T&S Quick in 2009.

“I really liked the extra storage and the lack of necessity of having to take grain to town,” he said.

Gehm’s experience during the delayed 2009 harvest moved him to make further improvements to his on-farm capabilities.

“We had a terribly wet fall in 2009 and I realized that I didn’t have sufficient drying capacity for the operation that I wanted to run. So, in 2010 I went back to Tom Quick at T&S Quick again and we came up with a plan to install a tower dryer and a wet leg. I’ve been very pleased with every expansion project that I’ve done,” the fifth-generation farm explained.

The latest project began in the spring of 2020 when he contacted Dale Middleton of T&S Quick and plans were made to erect the 60-foot bin and add onto the catwalk and conveyor to service that bin. The bin was ready for service in August.

Automated System

The interconnected grain system includes GSI’s WatchDog that allows Gehm to remotely monitor and control dryer functions such as moisture, temperature and dryer status from a web-accessible device.

“That’s really convenient to be at home and have an idea of what’s going on with the dryer or you could be hauling grain into the facility, running the combine, it doesn’t matter where you’re at, you can remotely monitor what the dryer is doing for you. It’s awfully nice. It let’s you know when you’re out of grain,” he said.

“Everything is pretty much automated. When the dryer calls for grain, it receives grain from the wet bin. It’s constantly flowing out of the dryer and going into the bins. It’s full automation and then during the evening when I run out of grain, everything automatically shuts down and things are waiting for me in the morning to get a few loads in and get the dryer going again.”

Advantages

Gehm noted the advantages he’s found in expanding his on-farm grain handling capabilities.

“Back in that terrible fall of 2009 my father and I sat down after that harvest season and we looked at the savings here with this facility in comparison to taking those bushels to town. The savings were absolutely staggering. So, I immediately saw the value of having your own dryer system. I knew it before, but that really magnified the value of having your own system,” Gehm said.

“Not only did I realize the value of the drying system, equally I realized the value of on-farm storage somewhat for exactly the same reasons. I was able to keep my combine running that year when a lot of others in the area had to be stopping at noon give or take an hour or so because the local elevators just couldn’t handle the glut of such high moisture grain.

“The local elevators have also come a long way since 2009, but I really enjoy having my own setup. I enjoy the idea that nobody can kind of dictate hours to me. If I want to start early or work late it doesn’t seem to be a problem with my operation. There’s just so much freedom and flexibility when you have your own system.

“I’m looking forward this fall of not having the burden of having to haul so much grain away from the facility when I have other interests such as harvesting. I’m looking forward to the extra storage and it really fit well into my system and has worked out well.”

Partnership

Gehm said he’s appreciative of his partnership with GSI dealer T&S Quick Enterprises.

“It’s very nice to have your own system and things can happen and that’s where I depend on Dale (Middleton) at T&S Quick. Dale’s been great to me in many different facets. Typically when they’re here building they’re receptive to any concerns I may have whether it’s concerns in fabrication, assembly, this or that he’s been great to work with. When I do have problems in-season I give him a call and I have never not received a phone call back the same day or the next morning that I’ve called. His dedication to me as a customer has been great,” Gehm noted.

“It’s been an important partnership. I always have some questions about how does this work, what happens here, what should I do, what shouldn’t I do, this is broke, this needs fixing, and I rely heavily on them for advice and for service.”