Grain farmers are continually looking for ways to future proof their operations and ultimately improve their bottom line. One way to do that is through adoptable, affordable and easy to install sensor technology to create a smarter bin.

What is a smart bin?

A smart grain bin is equipped to take the guesswork out of managing and conditioning grain. Erin Squires, AGI Digital representative, says farmers work hard to ensure they grow crops with the highest possible yields, but storing grain in the bin and “hoping for the best” is not a great risk management strategy.

“We think about it this way. If the bin is your bank account, why would you store it where you cannot monitor your own investment?  AGI is on a mission to change this practice with smarter bins,” says Squires. “A smarter bin that is retrofitted with AGI BinManager digital sensors can be the wisest purchase you can make in turning a bin into a grain conditioning profit center.”

AGI BinManager sensor cables allow farmers to take control from anywhere, whether that is on the combine, on vacation or simply just lying in bed. The system allows farmers to monitor grain condition 24/7, see the temperature and moisture and prevent emerging hot spots, spoilage and crusting – all through automation.

How do cable sensors work?

The AGI BinManager system places a series of cables throughout the bin.

As Squires explains, these cables are “an automated system that focuses on achieving grain temperature and moisture targets by taking advantage of the internal and external bin and weather conditions. The sensors can automate the fans so farmers can optimize existing conditions to prevent hot spots, spoilage and crusting while retaining the grain quality they are looking for.”

A close-up look at AGI BinManager’s sensor cables, which detect temperature and moisture data in real-time. Photo submitted by AGI.

How can a smart bin improve on-farm safety?

A grain bin monitoring system is a farmer’s eyes inside of their storage bins. Instead of climbing up or crawling into the bin to evaluate grain quality, AGI BinManager uses cellular networks so farmers can remotely view their bins from any connected device.

As Squires says, “Far too many times you hear about farmers dropping a piece of plywood into the bin to create a temporary floor over the grain in order to assess moisture pockets or remove crusting. AGI BinManager keeps farmers safely on the ground and out of the bin. The whole point of the system is to prevent grain conditions that cause quality issues and keep [farmers] completely out of the bin. This protects grain and prevents any accidents from happening. That is a huge safety factor.”

When is the best time to retrofit bins to be smarter?

Summer is the perfect time for farmers to check out grain bin monitoring systems, particularly before harvest, while crops are still in the ground.

Farmers can learn more about AGI BinManager, sign up for a free bin assessment, or find an AGI dealer near them by visiting aggrowth.com/digital.

AGI BinManager hardware components that communicate data to the easy-to-use online platform that allows you to monitor and maintain grain condition from anywhere at any time through any connected device. Photo submitted by AGI.