removing rotten soybeans

[Dan-IA]

Hey all,
I just sold some beans yesterday. $11.35/bu. But I took a small dock because there were some rotten ones in there. Apparently I've got a crust forming on the top and I didn't know it.

Spent a few hours up there today throwing it out, it's slow with a 5 gallon bucket and my hand just trying to pick it up. Biggest problem is that it crumbles when I try to pick it up.

Is there a better way? I'm thinking about using some sort of sieve, like the screen from an old fanning mill or a feed grinder to allow me to lift up big chunks of the bean crust, making for easy removal of the rotten clumps but letting the good individual beans fall through.

I'm just wondering if there's a better way. And it might not be a bad idea to check on your beans too, in case you haven't lately.

 

[billyiron]

how much dock,,11.35 Id say what the heck,and haul beans

 

[Doug in Illinois]

Back in the late 70's I used to work in a grain elevator that also used several farmer type round grain bins. They were storage for overflow milo (grain sorghum). Always got condensation, fans couldn't help on that. I got VERY SICK a couple times after scooping the moldy crust off the top. The mold spores have a way of making it past a dust mask. I would honestly just throw away the clumped beans with a good grain shovel, but I understand the need to salvage all you can. The one idea I can come up with is to slot the bottom of an older grain shovel to resemble a overgrown cat litter box scoop so beans that aren't clumped together can fall thru. I would NOT be trying to seperate any more by hand, way too easy to wipe your nose or eyes and end up sick. DOUG

 

[RWK in WI]

Cut and paste this link. It may be the answer to your probem.

http://www.gemplers.com/product/151080/Remco-Perforated-Deep-Capacity-Scoop-Shovel

 

[37 chief]

I don't have any idea what you are dealing with, but can you attach a shop vacuum to 55 gal drum, and have a hose from the drun to suck up the stuff. Stan

 

[Anonymous-0]

If those soybeans were canola (rapeseed) and ANY rotten ones were found in the sample, that $11.35/bu load would be worth about $4.00/bu. BTDT. I think a gravity cleaner would separate them. What I did when it happened to me was , I took in small loads, and what was good was good and what was bad came home and got fed. An understanding grain buyer would be a help. A gift of a bottle of good whiskey to that understanding grain buyer may or may not help.

 

[John M]

Shovel?

 

[Doug in Illinois]

Sounds like a good idea IF hose long enough to reach the ground, and someone on ground to empty it out.

 

[msb]

A horse dobbin fork works great for skimming off crusted grain. The good, loose stuff will fall through the tines.Forks are the same as those sometimes used in cattle show rings.

 

[super99]

You said a small dock, not sure how much that is, but if it's not that much, I'd take and keep hauling, shouldn't be over a load or so and then you should be rid of it and the rest of the beans should be OK. Makes a good point for checking bin often and run some air on them to keep that from happening. Chris

 

[fixerupper]

How many good beans will you throw out with the bad? I have the same situation in one bin and I have them sold for ONLY $10.63. It's in a 3200 bu bin and the crust is soft and only a couple inches deep so if there's any dock it'll only be the first load. Had the same thing happen in this bin last year, only worse, and there was no dock at all.

For $11.35 don't worry about it unless there's a whole lot of damage or you're hauling to a place that's really picky. A little dock in one load will only hurt your pride a little. Have a good new year. Jim