On realising that his grain-processing capability was reaching the end of its life, Andrew Reed, director of RC Reed Ltd, who farms at Berwick upon Tweed, contacted McArthur BDC to discuss how best to increase his drying and storage facilities, including the replacement of his ageing drier.
“Having an established relationship with McArthur BDC, I was aware of its grain handling expertise, proven record of successfully delivering new and upgraded grain processing plants and knew it delivered great customer service and support,” he says.
As well as farming a total of 760ha and growing winter barley, oilseed rape, wheat, spring barley and spring beans, Reed is also a member of England’s Curling team and is soon off to play in the World Championship Qualification in Slovenia.
“Working with an independent shed builder, I decided to build a new grain store located close to my existing store,” Andrew notes. “I then held discussions with McArthur BDC around the handling equipment I needed. I was undecided on whether to buy a mobile batch grain drier or a continuous flow drier, but on McArthur BDC’s advice, confirmed after talking to other farmers about their experience of both, I decided on a Akronmaster AB Svegma 38tph continuous flow drier.”
The Svegma is situated outside, positioned in the middle of the new plant between the new grain store and the existing store.
Reed chose to also install a McArthur BDC Moisture Monitoring System (MMS), which provides automated grain moisture data by sampling incoming wet grain and outgoing dried grain as it enters and leaves the Svegma.
On the advice of McArthur BDC, Andrew has also installed Skandia Elevator I-Line handling equipment consisting of: 3 x 60tph elevators and 8 x 60tph conveyors – including 1 x trench intake conveyor. The new plant is also equipped with an Aagaard aspirator cleaner.
Grain is tipped into the intake and taken via an elevator to the Aagaard. Once cleaned, grain enters another elevator, which feeds a conveyor taking the grain to the Svegma drier and MMS, on flow and return – if the drier is full, grain is returned to the intake via a conveyor.
Dried grain is transported to either of the two stores – a valve determines to which of the two stores grain is sent.
The function and integration of the equipment within the plant is controlled by a McArthur BDC PLC touchscreen control panel, allowing remote monitoring from a laptop or any mobile device.
“The construction of the new grain store took longer than anticipated, which meant I did not have a drier, so for one harvest I had to sell wet grain, which resulted in me having to pay £30,000 in drying costs,” he says. “A reminder, if any was needed, of the importance of having drying capabilities on the farm.”
The new plant has successfully delivered the additional storage capacity RC Reed Ltd needed, and the drier and handling equipment has helped to streamline harvest operations.
“Anyone looking to build a new grain store or upgrade their existing facilities should talk to other farmers about the equipment they have chosen and why.”