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BATCH DRYING SYSTEM WORKS WELL FOR NORFOLK FARMER

Enhanced grain quality, no weight loss and the avoidance of moulds are just three of the benefits that batch drying has brought to a major cereal grower in Norfolk.

Bob Gooderham of Lyng Farm, Garboldisham, near Thetford, farms a total of 2600 acres of Breckland to heavy clay in partnership with his father, Jim. The main crop is 1,400 acres of winter wheat (Consort, Savannah and Claire) with the remaining acreage down to sugar beet and setaside.

The decision to add to an on-floor drying system with a portable batch dryer was made nine years ago when the 1,400 farmed acres at Home Farm, Kenninghall, two miles away, was increased to 2100 with the purchase of Lyng Farm.
 
“We had an on floor grain system which was just about coping but with an extra 700 acres of mainly cereals, we needed a new drying system,” said Bob Gooderham.  “Lyng Farm already had a static dryer but output was poor at 2tph and it had no re-sale value. 

“We wanted a system that dried the grain as soon as we finished harvest so that we could be in the driving seat,” he explained.  “Having experienced an on-floor dryer, if you didn’t use the weather in September it was then nearly impossible to dry the grain and could cost a lot of money.”

Nine seasons on, and with the addition five years ago of a further 300 acres, the move to batch drying has worked well.  The OPICO 5000 has proved extremely reliable, requiring odd bearings from time to time and this year, a new burner. It is still functioning as well as a new machine, stresses Mr Gooderham, drying wheat from 22% mc at 5/6 tph to 15% or just below. 

Second dryer installed

Last year, a second OPICO batch dryer, a 6tph 600QF model, was installed. “With the recent trend of wet harvests and the onset of strobilurin fungicide technology, yields have increased and the crop is ripening ten days later,” said Mr Gooderham. “We took the decision to install a second drier which was more important than purchasing extra combine capacity.”

In its first season the 600, which is electrically powered and lpg fired, dried an estimated 1,500 tons at a cost of about £1.50p per ton.

“Combining days are made longer, which enables us to start a bit earlier and we finished in August with time to spare last year,” said Mr Gooderham.  Which was fortunate, he added, since it turned out that there were only two combining days in September.

Harvesting is carried out with two 23-tph Claas combines. “Because the crop is not as ripe as it used to be, we are able to cut days earlier than normal.   This helps with the straw harvest on a weather window - we have to leave the corn in a swath a day before we can bale it to get it dry,” says Mr Gooderham.

With just three on the harvesting team, the grain drying system has to look after itself quietly and efficiently, around the clock when necessary.  

The grain lorries are unloaded into a 140 tons capacity reception pit, designed by Bob Gooderham, which delivers grain to the dryers automatically by auger.

“In a good spell of weather we need to be putting 300 tons per day through the dryers,” said Mr Gooderham.

When the second dryer was installed by local OPICO dealers, Marrison Electrical, they also put in a wet bin so that when both dryers ask for wheat together, the bin will hold the capacity of one dryer and the auger will run to fill the other one.  A second bin for dried grain is filled if the two dryers decide to empty at the same time.

Should the situation require it, Mr Gooderham can speed up the dryer by taking off the grain while it is still hot and using cooling pedestal fans in the main grain store, a large barn with a concrete floor that holds 2500 tons.

Advantages

One of the main advantages of the driers is that they are quiet in operation, which is an important factor as there is a cottage close by. “Over the years I am pleased to say that we haven’t had any complaints,” said Mr Gooderham.

Being portable, they also have a good resale value, he adds.

As far as the grain itself is concerned, Bob Gooderham is convinced that the batch drying system delivers a number of benefits.

“The grain doesn’t get a chance to get mouldy,” he says.  “The fact that it can be measured for micro-toxins makes this an issue.

“Also grain quality is enhanced, not reduced. The grain has a good appearance. And we haven’t had insect troubles for a number of years.”

Bushel weights are maintained and overall, he says, the batch drying system works well for them.