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Grain spoilage usually starts in a small area where heat and moisture build up, and if nobody catches it, the damage spreads. On the Prairies, grain often goes into the bin warm at harvest and then remains in storage through a long, cold winter, creating conditions that can contribute to hot spots.
This post covers what causes hot spots, where they tend to form, the warning signs to watch for, and practical steps to help prevent them.
A hot spot is a pocket of grain that is warmer than the surrounding grain. Because undisturbed grain retains heat, that warmth can remain trapped. Mould and insect activity can then generate additional heat and moisture, causing the problem to spread. Catching a hot spot early is crucial, before it affects a much larger portion of the bin.
Hot spots usually result from a combination of storage conditions rather than a single problem. Warm grain, excess moisture, insects, mould, dockage, and restricted airflow can all contribute to localized heating.
When outside temperatures fall, grain near the bin walls cools faster than grain in the centre. Cooler air moves down along the walls, then rises through the warmer centre, picking up moisture along the way.
As that warm, moist air reaches cooler grain near the surface, moisture can condense and create a damp pocket. This process, known as moisture migration, is one reason the top centre of a bin is vulnerable to spoilage.
The greater the temperature difference between the grain and outside air, the stronger these convection currents become. This is one reason warm grain should be cooled soon after it enters storage.
Grain continues to respire after harvest, releasing heat and moisture. In wheat, respiration increases when moisture is above 15%, which can lead to heating. You can check crop-specific targets in our guide to safe storage moisture for canola, wheat, barley and other crops.
Canola needs particular attention: the ideal moisture content for long-term storage is 8%, but even that can be too high when seed temperatures reach 25°C or more, increasing the risk of localized heating.
A bin’s average moisture reading can hide trouble. Most of the grain may be cool and dry, while a few loads that entered the same bin tough or hot can develop hot spots. These problem areas can go unnoticed if you’re not monitoring different areas of the bin.
Weed seeds, chaff, and green plant material can hold more moisture than the grain around them. When they collect in pockets, they can cause localized heating even if the overall moisture test looks acceptable.
Green canola seed can also increase storage risk, even when the canola is dry and cool. Green seed is often small and shrivelled, leaving less space for air to move between seeds and reducing airflow. For more information on managing canola after harvest, see our post on canola moisture management.
Warm, moist grain favours insect activity and mould growth. Both can contribute to heating, making an existing problem worse.
Live insects in a sample are a reason to inspect the bin more closely. Mould may be harder to detect because it can develop below the surface, but a musty smell, clumping, or caking can signal a problem.
Fines tend to collect beneath the fill point, while chaff can accumulate near the walls, creating areas with different densities. Because air follows the easiest path through the grain, these densely packed areas may receive less airflow, increasing the risk of hot spots.
A peaked surface can also make airflow less uniform and can contribute to moisture accumulation near the top.
Hot spots can develop anywhere in a grain bin, but some areas are more prone to heating than others.
Knowing where hot spots tend to form helps you decide where to sample, where to probe, and whether your cable layout covers the parts of the bin most likely to heat.
Preventing hot spots comes down to good storage practices and regular monitoring.
Remove dockage before storage where possible, especially from canola containing weed seeds or green plant material. Grain that is too wet for safe storage needs drying; warm grain needs prompt cooling.
Aeration after harvest helps lower grain temperatures. Canadian Grain Commission guidance identifies below 18°C as a temperature at which insects stop feeding and reproducing, and recommends keeping grain at a uniform temperature below 15°C.
Level the grain after filling rather than leaving a peak in the centre. A level surface helps promote more even airflow through the grain.
If fines have concentrated beneath the fill point, coring can help remove them and improve airflow through the centre. Run the unload auger until an inverted cone appears on the grain surface, then level the grain again.
Use aeration to cool the grain and keep temperatures reasonably uniform throughout the bin. Cooling reduces insect activity and slows mould growth and grain deterioration.
Run aeration fans when outside conditions are suitable for moving the grain temperature toward your storage target. In autumn, cool the grain in stages as outside temperatures fall rather than waiting for very cold weather.
When cooling, keep the fans running until the cooling front has passed through the entire grain mass. Avoid unnecessary aeration during warm or humid conditions, as this can add moisture to the grain or warm grain that is already at a suitable storage temperature.
Our V2 Bindapt+ 2.0 Automate can run aeration fans based on actual bin and outside air conditions, while a plenum sensor helps confirm that the fan is moving air as expected.
Check grain temperatures every two weeks using installed cables or an electronic probe. Look for trends over time, particularly areas that warm up or fail to cool as expected.
Hand probes have limited reach, especially near the core of larger bins. Grain bin temperature cables hang through the grain and take readings at multiple depths, giving you a better picture of conditions throughout the grain mass.
A grain bin temperature monitoring system, such as Adaptive Agriculture’s V2 Bindapt+ 2.0 Monitor, reads temperature and moisture cables and can alert you to conditions that need attention. Our Visual Farm platform brings readings from multiple bins into one interface, making it easier to spot trends and identify which bins need attention.
Act quickly to stop the problem from spreading. The right response depends on how warm the grain is, how much moisture is present, and whether there are signs of mould or insects.
Turning the grain can break up warm, moist, mouldy or infested pockets and help the grain cool. One option is to remove about a third of the grain from the bin and then put it back. For higher-risk grain, such as canola with high moisture, green seed, weeds or dockage, unloading and moving all the grain may be the safer option.
As you move grain to break up a hot spot, check it for signs of spoilage. Feel the grain and watch for caking, mould, insects, or musty or burnt smells. These signs can help you judge how serious the problem is. If the grain has started to spoil, explore delivery options before its quality declines further.
After moving the affected grain, run aeration fans when outside conditions are suitable for cooling. Continue until the cooling front has moved through the whole bin.
Temperature readings should fall and then remain stable. If the temperature starts to rise again, check the grain for signs of another hot spot. Pay particular attention as temperatures warm in spring.
Hot spots are easier to manage when you catch them early. Clean grain, prompt cooling, even airflow, and regular temperature checks all help reduce the risk of a small pocket becoming a costly storage problem.
During harvest, keeping up with every bin can be difficult. Adaptive Agriculture’s V2 Bindapt+ 2.0 Monitor sends text or email alerts when temperature readings change, helping you identify which bin needs a closer look.
To discuss monitoring options for your bin yard, contact the Adaptive Agriculture team.
Check stored grain at least every two weeks. Grain that went into storage warm, tough or with high dockage should be checked more often, especially early in the storage season.
Yes. Cold outside air doesn’t mean the centre of the bin is cooling. If grain temperature levels off or rises while outside temperatures fall, it can signal spoilage. Keep monitoring throughout winter.
Not necessarily. Insects can cause heating at lower moisture levels, while damp weed seeds or dockage can create hot spots in otherwise dry grain. Dry grain still needs to be kept clean, cool, and monitored.
Aim for an even grain temperature below 15°C after harvest. For canola, continue cooling as outside temperatures fall, with a goal of 0°C or lower by early winter.
No. Temperature monitoring systems can alert you to rising temperatures so you can act sooner, but they don’t prevent hot spots. Keeping grain dry, cool, and well aerated is what helps reduce the risk. If temperatures begin to rise, use the readings as a signal to inspect the grain and take action.
