Keep grain drying safety top of mind

November 30, 2025 By Bryan Wendt 0 Comments

As crop harvest continues, the farmers in your area are focused on grain storage and conditioning. Dryer safety, during harvest, may be overlooked in the rush to move bushels. Reminding your customers in this industry of safety best practices can help avoid accidents or operational setbacks. Being proactive is the best way to avoid potential safety problems, and grain dryer maintenance is an important first step. Grain dryers are real workhorses on the farm, but many were installed up to 30 to 40 years ago. Like any piece of equipment, they require regular inspections and tune-ups.

Here are six key pieces to remember and share with customers as we continue this year’s grain drying season:

Conduct regular visual inspections of the grain dryer’s exterior and interior.
Conduct preharvest cleaning and burner tuning.
When entering a bin, follow proper safety protocols and wear personal protective equipment.
For larger dryers with a vaporizer, encourage your customers to implement a maintenance routine with a propane professional.
Ensure all NFPA 58 code requirements are met, including that the tank is 50 ft. away from the grain dryer (NFPA 58 7.2.3.5).

Bryan Wendt is the propane operations and safety manager at CHS Inc. He can be reached at 651-355-8546 or bryan.wendt@chsinc.com.