Advantages, Savings In Bulk Grain

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31362, 6 May 1967, Page 10

Advantages, Savings In Bulk Grain

Some of the advantages and savings involved in bulk handling of grain are stressed by Mr S. Small of Woodstock, Waimate, in a letter to “The Press.”

“In The Press' last Saturday under the heading ‘Not So Attractive’ I was surprised to see that Mr D. A. Lucock, adviser to the Rangiora Farm Improvement Club, when considering the costs involved in changing to bulk wheat, omitted to consider the saving of 5d a bushel on sacks and twine, a saving of one third or more on transport and a saving of labour at harvest time.

“Many farmers with bulk facilities are harvesting on their own. The grain is under caver at the end of the day. Having 1000 or 1500 sacks of wheat lying in the paddock is a big worry. It is still in danger of fire and flood. Turning sacks to get them dry to avoid the grain growing through them during a spell of changeable weather is the most unrewarding task I know.

“If you cannot get the wheat direct from the paddock to the mill and it has to be stacked in the paddock there is an additional cost of at least 4d a bushel, plus covering costs, and the mice play havoc with wheat stacked in sacks on the farm.

“Sacks require overseas funds and have to be purchased every year. Twelve sacks to the ton at an Imported cost of 2s 6d each is 30s a ton and £6O for 40 tons. A 40-ton silo consisting of 25 sheets of galvanised corrugated iron and eight sheets of flat iron represents a cost of £45 for imported material and this is good for at least 30 to 40 years. The cement and shingle for the base are New Zealand manufactured and the iron is rolled and cut by New Zealand labour.

“Drying facilities can be provided cheaply for bulk wheat but are not practical for sacks considering the cost Being able to artificially dry grain may also mean the difference between milling wheat and feed price.”