TSGC Blog

Grain Farmers Explore Options for Sales
Grain farmers aren’t sure if selling crops locally is the best option, or if they should look overseas. Let’s take a look at both options.

3 Proposed Changes to the 1916 Grain Standards Act
Every five years since 1916, Congress has reauthorized the Grain Standards Act with very few changes. This year brings three new proposed changes.

Pandemic Affected Farmers Focus of New Farm Bureau Survey
Farm Bureau officials used data from a new survey to come up with a series of recommendations for pandemic affected farmers.

Pandemic Assistance Available for Grain Farmers
There are several pandemic assistance programs farmers can take advantage of due to the virus. The federal project offers direct relief to farmers.

What You Don’t Know About Murder Hornets
‘Murder hornets’ target honeybees. If you’re a soybean farmer, their presence could spell bad news for this year’s crops.

Commodity Economies Face Pressures of Coronavirus
Grain farmers are feeling the impact as the commodities export market dries up under the pressures of Coronavirus.

Bright AccuWeather Forecast Prompts New Grain Storage Plans
AccuWeather expects a massive year for corn production. They anticipate the 2016 record-setting number to be crushed by this year’s 15.486 billion bushels.

Is Your Farm Ready for Planting Season?
There’s a lot that goes into planting season preparation, but one major issue often gets put to the side.

Monitor Grain Remotely for Better Results and Profits
How has your stored grain fared this winter? You had to control the crop’s temperature if you wanted it to stay in top harvested condition.

If You Ignore Grain Dust, It’s at Your Peril
In the last decade, farms have experienced 8.4 grain dust explosions annually across the Midwest. In 2018, it rose to 12.
Do You Know the New Early ARC and PLC Deadlines?
An unusually short deadline was given to register for either Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC).
read moreHigher U.S. Corn Prices on the Horizon and Expected to Stay
As we end what has been a tumultuous year in agriculture, four-dollar corn has become the new normal. Demand is what’s driving the global corn market.
read moreHow to Turn Your Leftover Fat into Homemade Suet
Winter on the farm means focusing on business operations and servicing equipment. But why not make farm life more interesting with suet bird feeders?
read more5 Ways to Reduce Grain Drying Costs
Grain drying is one of the most energy-consuming and money-draining aspects of farming. There isn’t a quick fix, but there are energy-saving tips to lower costs.
read moreWhy Farmers Use Drones in Agriculture (and Maybe You Should Too)
Improved sustainability measures can provide economic benefits to farming professionals as they focus their efforts and resources more efficiently and effectively.
read moreHow to Get More Profitability out of Precision Agriculture
The invaluable insights from precision agri-tech allow farmers to increase their profit margins while lowering their production costs.
read moreIs Agroecology the Future of Food Production?
Will our current agriculture system sustain us without killing the planet? In short, no. We need to increase food production by half.
read moreHow to Keep Fungus away and Profits up This Season
Across the Midwest, elevators have stopped taking grain that tests positive for mycotoxins. They won’t take the risk, even if you can’t see it.
read moreCorn Rust is Farmers’ Next New Headache and It’s Spreading across the Country
Damaged corn stalks can’t pull in as much sunlight and result in smaller plants. In a year that’s already far from normal, the last thing you need is a fungus spreading through your crop.
read more2020 Grain Bin Deaths on the Rise
Grain bin deaths are on the rise this year due to last year’s poor grain quality, much like 2009.
read moreGrain Farmers Explore Options for Sales
Grain farmers aren’t sure if selling crops locally is the best option, or if they should look overseas. Let’s take a look at both options.
read more3 Proposed Changes to the 1916 Grain Standards Act
Every five years since 1916, Congress has reauthorized the Grain Standards Act with very few changes. This year brings three new proposed changes.
read morePandemic Affected Farmers Focus of New Farm Bureau Survey
Farm Bureau officials used data from a new survey to come up with a series of recommendations for pandemic affected farmers.
read morePandemic Assistance Available for Grain Farmers
There are several pandemic assistance programs farmers can take advantage of due to the virus. The federal project offers direct relief to farmers.
read moreWhat You Don’t Know About Murder Hornets
‘Murder hornets’ target honeybees. If you’re a soybean farmer, their presence could spell bad news for this year’s crops.
read moreCommodity Economies Face Pressures of Coronavirus
Grain farmers are feeling the impact as the commodities export market dries up under the pressures of Coronavirus.
read moreBright AccuWeather Forecast Prompts New Grain Storage Plans
AccuWeather expects a massive year for corn production. They anticipate the 2016 record-setting number to be crushed by this year’s 15.486 billion bushels.
read moreIs Your Farm Ready for Planting Season?
There’s a lot that goes into planting season preparation, but one major issue often gets put to the side.
read moreMonitor Grain Remotely for Better Results and Profits
How has your stored grain fared this winter? You had to control the crop’s temperature if you wanted it to stay in top harvested condition.
read moreIf You Ignore Grain Dust, It’s at Your Peril
In the last decade, farms have experienced 8.4 grain dust explosions annually across the Midwest. In 2018, it rose to 12.
read moreIs It Ever Too Cold to Plant a Winter Crop?
Sometimes, the best thing you can do for a winter crop is to leave it alone.
read moreGrowing Winter Wheat for Greater Yields
Studies show that growing winter wheat typically out-yields spring wheat by at least 20 percent.
read moreWinter Cover Crops to the Rescue for Higher Yields
Cover crops like hairy vetch can prevent erosion, improve your soil’s fertility, and create a better seedbed for spring planting.
read moreWinter Farm Planning Means Greater Profits Next Year
Changes for the next growing season start with winter farm planning. From soil management and drainage to crop rotation and storage, let’s get planning.
read moreGrain Storage Prep: Are You Ready for Long-term Storage?
Grain storage prep is one of the most important things to do for your harvested crop, monitoring your stored grain’s temperature is the other.
read moreWheat Falling Number: Can It Be Improved?
Falling number reflects the amount of the alpha amylase enzyme in grain, and can be improved. You can even help plants recover from starch damage.
read moreMaking Grain Bin Safety a Priority During Harvest Season
More than a dozen people have died in silo-related accidents over the last three months alone. Let’s make grain bin safety a priority this harvest season.
read moreWill US Farmers See a Frost-Free Harvest Season?
Late planting put crops at risk of falling victim to frost. Should there be cause for concern? Forecasters say take precautions.
read moreTrouble for Grain Exports: Who Will Buy Our Soybeans?
In 2019, farmers find themselves looking for options, as grain exports are down 22 percent.
read moreWhy It’s More Important Than Ever to Monitor Grain
Is monitoring grain temperature really necessary? There are three big reasons why it’s more important to monitor grain today than ever before.
read more5 Ways to Improve Grain Yield Next Year
As we head towards autumn, it’s not too early to start thinking about the 2020 growing season and ways to improve the grain yield.
read moreHow Cover Crops Can Help Recover Flooded Fields
Planting the right cover crops is critical to your farm strategy. Get it right and you’ll improve your annual yield. Get it wrong and you’ll face an army of weeds.
read moreThe Arduous Path to Recover Flooded Fields
After the rain stops, the hard part begins. It’s time to check fields and determine what needs to be destroyed and what can be saved.
read moreImprove Grain Bin Safety with Remote Monitoring
There are a few other factors to consider in on-farm storage besides preserving grain quality – your primary asset. There is also grain bin safety and its related costs.
read more4 Reasons to Increase Your On-Farm Corn Storage
From saving money to controlling grain condition, more farmers are finding a need to increase on-farm corn storage.
read moreProtect Seeds from Fungus in Wet Planting Seasons
Farms across the country had to deal with a wet spring this year. Now planting challenges include how to protect seeds from fungus.
read moreHow to Protect Wheat and Other Crops from Insects
If you made a list of the biggest annoyances to farmers, insects would be near the top. They don’t have to be.
read moreCan You Keep Your Operation in the Black with Rising Farm Expenses?
Times are challenging, and it’s more important than ever to keep energy costs and other farm expenses low, and protect your grain assets over the long-term.
read moreWill Winter Floods Delay Spring Planting?
Will farmers be able to stick to the regular planting schedule, or will winter floods delay spring planting?
read moreHow to Hit the Spring Planting Sweet Spot and Get the Most from Your Plants
When you’re going for 98% yield, when is the best time to plant your corn? There’s a narrow window for spring planting, depending on where you live.
read moreNew Grain Storage Rules: Why Is Grain Temperature Monitoring Now the Norm?
Grain temperature monitoring has become the norm, rather than the exception, but why? New market circumstances and weather changes are driving new grain storage rules.
read moreHow to Monitor Grain Temperature from the Palm of Your Hand
For those lucky ones who’ve installed grain temperature monitoring cables in your bins, you can monitor grain temperature at will. You can check anytime, anywhere to see if it’s healthy, or if it’s sick
read moreEasily Connect GrainTRAC Remote Grain Monitoring and Track Grain Health Anytime, Anywhere
Tri-States Grain Conditioning General Manager, Dan Winkowitsch, takes the mystery out of setting up your new GrainTRAC. Go from making frequent trips to your bins to quickly checking all of them remotely in a few easy steps.
read moreKeys to Successful Grain Storage Management
Since the condition and quality of harvested grain varies annually, each year is different in managing your stored grain. There’s only one reliable way to know if stored grain is healthy – temperature.
read more6 Reasons Planning for a Grain Storage Shortage Might Be the Right Move
Between carrying more grain into the new crop year and another year of record crop size, fall brings a predictable grain storage shortage…again.
read more14 Long-term Grain Storage Tips for Better Market Results
Being proactive with your stored grain management strategy is a must for an unpredictable market. These 14 long-term grain storage tips will help you get the most out of your operation.
read moreDry-Grain Management Means Longer Storage Times for Wheat
Are you looking to improve your dry-grain management for longer wheat storage times, and more market flexibility? Learn about proper aeration, good insect deterrence, and effective grain temperature monitoring.
read moreSoggy Weather Forecasts High Humidity Grain Storage in the Midwest
New climate predictions may find you planning for a future with wetter harvests, and battling high humidity when storing grain.
read moreHow to Manage Grain Shrink – the Invisible Thief
Tri-States Grain Conditioning General Manager, Dan Winkowitsch, explains why grain shrink is a manageable problem.
read moreGrainTRAC Remote Grain Temperature Monitoring: The Basics
Tri-States Grain Conditioning General Manager, Dan Winkowitsch, explains the basics of GrainTRAC remote grain monitoring. Learn how it works from grain bin to secure data transfer to remote access.
read moreThe Moisture Cable Fairy Tale
Tri-States Grain Conditioning General Manager, Dan Winkowitsch, examines the tale of the grain bin moisture cable.
read moreWhy Monitor Grain Temperature Remotely? It’s Easy.
Tri-States Grain Conditioning General Manager, Dan Winkowitsch, answers the often asked question, “Why monitor grain temperature?”
read moreStored Grain Theft Doesn’t Have to Be Another Headache for Farmers
From copper wire to farm machinery to stored grain theft, farm security is increasingly under siege. Keep thieves away with the silent watchdog 24/7.
read moreCan You Adapt Your Silage Silo for Extra Grain Storage? Maybe.
Rather than letting an old tower silo sit unused, it’s possible to repurpose it to store grain – at least temporarily.
read moreBuried Alive: 20 Seconds to Total Grain Entrapment
Total grain engulfment takes a mere 20 seconds. Almost no one survives engulfment. Still, across the United States, grain entrapment is on the rise when other farm accidents are not. Why?
read more3 Portable Grain Temperature Monitoring Devices That Won’t Break the Bank
When you don’t have the budget for the most advanced farming technologies, you have to get creative. Setting your farm on the path to Smart Farming without breaking the bank starts with portable grain monitoring devices.
read moreThe Internet of Things Revolutionizes Farming and Grain Storage
No matter how you personally feel about the technology invasion, it’s here to stay. It’s time to adapt, learn, and grow alongside it for your farm’s operation to thrive in the future. Learn how the Internet of Things (IoT) can help you farm smarter.
read moreSave Time, Money, and Energy with Remote Grain Monitoring? Where Do I Sign Up?
Grain management best practices mean you’re always looking for grain temperature trends to see if your grain is healthy or unhealthy. The beauty of GrainTrac remote grain monitoring is that you can get that crucial data at prescribed times or on-demand from anywhere you have Internet access.
read moreA Guide to Grain Storage Insect Control: 4 Easy Steps to Getting It Right
Grain storage insect control in a nutshell: prepare the bin, prepare the grain, create an unfavorable environment for insects, and monitor your grain’s temperature.
read moreIs Grain Moisture Content Throwing a Wet Blanket on Your Profits?
When it comes to grain moisture content, many farmers feel the pinch of the Goldilocks effect. Too wet and too dry are both problematic.
read moreGrain Temperature: Combating the Shrinking Profits of Stored Grain
Whether you’re a small farm operation or a commercial grain storage facility, grain temperature cables are the most reliable way to protect your grain investments.
read moreHow Agri-Tech is Reshaping the Way We Farm
Agricultural technology helps you make data-driven decisions that take the money-wasting guesswork out of farm management.
read more