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Poking a hole in a lack of grain bin information: Western Producer

Robin Booker

January 21st, 2021

The company's sensors and control system helps turn any aeration bin into a smart bin, which can help producers save significant money while drying grain.

Grain Information Blog Picture
Adaptive Ag Agriculture won the Ag tech category at the 2021 Manitoba Ag Days awards for its new product called the Binstick. The Binstick is a portable grain bin probe with sensors that connects to Adaptive Ag’s automated in-bin grain drying system.

Poking a hole in a lack of grain bin information

“The Binstick is for grain bins that don’t have those in-bin grain cables. We can quickly put an electronic rod with an auger on it that you just hand crank into the grain from the top of the grain bin down,” said Steven Rogoschewsky of Adaptive Agriculture. “It measures the temperature of the grain and the moisture content of the grain, as well as the air quality at the top of the bin.”
Through measuring the humidity at the top of the bin the system can indicate when the grain-drying process is complete. Users of the Binstick can quickly move it from bin to bin because it’s made out of a modular metal design. The first section of Binstick has a removable T-handle that enables farmers to twist the segment into the grain. A cordless impact driver can also be used to sink the Binstick. The Binstick is a portable grain bin probe with sensors that connects to Adaptive Ag’s automated in-bin grain drying system.

Sections of the Binstick are added until sensors are driven to the desired depth, either through the hole at the top of the bin or through an observation hole.

Binstick is compatible with Adaptive Agriculture’s automated in-bin drying system, called Bindapt, which uses supplementary heaters powered by natural gas, propane or diesel, that connect to any aeration fan. The company’s sensors and control system help turn any aeration bin into a smart bin, which can help producers save significant money while drying grain.
“There’s a sensor that we put between the fan in the bin and that air plenum, and it measures temperature, humidity, and static pressure,” Rogoschewsky said. “The control system controls the heater and connects to a cellphone tower so you can see how that system is working on your phone, with alerts. It also connects to in-bin grain temperature or temperature moisture cables and you can see those readings on your phone as well.” The web application the company developed shows how well the grain is drying down. “They can see their current bin or if they’ve got multiple devices set up or multiple bins set up they can see each bin and the inventory that’s in it, as well as the ongoing temperature, blended air humidity going in the bin. There are also graphs that show how well that fan is drying with or without supplemental heat,” Rogoschewsky said.
Adaptive Ag Solutions was recently recognized by the Alberta Government farm efficiency program for its fuel-saving efforts and environmental impact. Rogoschewsky said many producers apply too much heat when using supplemental heat to dry their grain “If we go back a couple of years ago, you’d be running your heaters full out with just kind of blasting air at the bin. We’ve controlled that process now. This can save you up to $70, $80, $90 a day on fuel,” Rogoschewsky said.
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