Innovative Storage Solutions For Farmers To Protect Harvested Crops

Imagine you are about to end the long growing season, have put in countless hours and effort, dealt with unpredictable weather, and managed pests to ensure your crops grow best in quality and quantity. Harvest season is the time to celebrate, but most farmers find themselves worrying about crop loss due to spoilage. In this scenario, effective storage, like a farm metal building, can help secure crops from pests, reduce wastage, and increase profit.

The High Cost Of Crop Loss For Farmers

About 20 to 40% of global crop production is lost to pests annually [source: USDA]. This number isn’t any lower in the States either. The financial impact of post-harvest losses is high among farmers and agribusiness owners. The main culprits here are pests, mold, mildew, and adverse weather conditions.

Therefore, investing in innovative storage solutions becomes a necessity as they help reduce the risks related to storage of:

• Harvest crops
• Hay bales
• Haylage
• Fruits
• Vegetables

Some farm owners prefer using old techniques of storage as they are unaware of modern & superior solutions or may be reluctant to try new storage methods due to cost or uncertainty. 

Traditional Storage Challenges

Most farmland owners still use storage methods like silos, grain bins, etc., since they are tried and tested for decades. But, they often come with limitations that can damage the quality and quantity of yield.

• Pests & Moisture: Traditional silos and grain bins are vulnerable to pests, insects, rodents, etc., which can contaminate stored grains. Moisture development can lead to molding and mildew growth, which can cause spoilage.

• Insufficient Temperature Control: Managing a constant temperature inside traditional storage units is challenging since, if not done properly, it can affect the quality of crops and reduce the nutrient value of hay bales and haylage. Moreover, high temperatures can cause grains to crack or dry out. 

• Quality Decline: Oftentimes, farmers need to store their harvest for a long time before they can find the right buyer or a higher market value for their grains or hay bales to sell and make a profit. Storing in traditional silos and grain bins can degrade in quality due to fluctuating weather/ seasons. This can result in lower market value and reduced profit.

So, how to remedy this? Let’s go through some of these modern storage options for farmers and agribusiness owners.

Modern & Innovative Storage Solutions (6 Storage Methods)

Controlled Atmosphere Storage (CAS)

CAS involves regulating oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen gas levels in storage to preserve crops. You can adjust these gas levels to slow down respiration rates and extend shelf life. You can keep them in an agricultural metal building with proper insulation. This process helps maintain the quality of products like fruits and vegetables while reducing spoilage.

Benefits Of CAS: It extends the shelf life of crops. It reduces spoilage. It helps maintain the quality like texture, flavor, and nutrient value. 

Best Crops For CAS: Apple, Pears, Cherries, Berries, Leafy Greens, Broccoli, etc.

Hermetic Storage

This process involves vacuum packaging. You can use airtight bags or containers to create an environment that blocks pests and moisture. It seals out oxygen and helps maintain low moisture levels, preserving the quality of grains and pulses.

Benefits Of Hermetic Storage: It is effective against pests and molds as it stops them from entering and creates a moisture barrier.

Best Crops For Hermetic Storage: It is suitable for various grains and pulses, such as wheat, rice, maize, beans, & lentils.

Advanced Grain Bins And Silos

Modern grain bins and silos come with advanced designs and technologies that enhance storage conditions. They have better ventilation and temperature control and come with moisture sensors to ensure optimal storage for grains. You can use metal barns to create one with added security and safety.

By integrating technologies, farmers can have all information in real time and track conditions remotely. This will reduce hassle and alert them of any potential problems. 

Climate Controlled Warehouses

These are ideal for temperature-sensitive crops, and they should be kept in the best conditions. To create a climate control warehouse, you can buy a metal prefab custom barn, add a HAVC system to control temperature and add vents and insulation to store perishable goods.

Best Crops For Climate-Control Warehouses: Fruits, Vegetables, Dairy Products, Cut Flowers, Meat, etc. Small to medium-sized farm owners can easily install them in an agricultural metal building to protect their harvest. 

On-Farm Cold Storage

For farmers with small or medium size land, on-farm cold storage can be a game changer. They can use it for direct-to-consumer sales via farmer’s market. These storages are designed to preserve necessary refrigeration that preserves the quality and freshness of on-farm growth products.

It reduces post-harvest losses and maintains the quality of the product. Farmers can also install a new farm metal building and start their own farm-to-table restaurants to earn some extra cash.

E.g., Reefers (Refrigerated Containers), Mobile Grain Bins, Modular Cold Storage Units, Mobile Silos, etc.

Solar-Powered Storage Systems

Looking for a sustainable and cost-effective crop storage solution? You can use solar energy to power storage units, reduce reliance on the energy grid, and decrease your energy bills. Solar panels convert light into electricity, which farmers can use to power ventilation, cooling systems, and storage-related equipment.

You can invest in solar dryers to dry crops like grains and herbs by removing moisture and storing it for a longer period. Farmers can use solar power during the day and conventional power during the night and cloudy days.

How To Choose The Right Storage Solution

1. Assess the type of crop you want to store and the duration of storage.
2. Determine which storage solution fits within your budget and offers a good long-term solution.
3. Evaluate resources like power supply, space, accessibility to the metal barns, and reliable electricity sources.
4. You can consult with an expert and suppliers to find out the best storage solution for the crop you grow.

The Future Of Crop Storage

1. Emerging technologies like AI-powered monitoring systems will transform crop storage through predictive analysis and advanced monitoring systems.

2. With growing efforts on sustainability and eco-friendliness, farmers can minimize the environmental impact by using biodegradable packing materials, energy-saving cooling systems, and green farm metal building designs. This will help reduce carbon footprint too.

3. Investing in advanced moisture sensing technology allows for more precise tracking of humidity levels in storage containers. Farmers can observe even minor changes in moisture to prevent spoilage and maintain the quality of the harvest.

Protect Your Harvest With Innovative Storage Solutions 

With these innovative and modern solutions, farmers can improve storage conditions and increase their profit. These solutions aren’t just for large farms but can be implemented by small and medium-sized farm owners, too. So, what are your methods for preserving harvest? Share your ideas with fellow farmers.