The importance of proper grain drying

Over the past five years, Ukrainian exports of agricultural seeds have increased more than sixfold, reaching $122 million compared to the initial $20 million. Such data was announced by Oleksandr Zakharchuk, head of the investment and logistics department of the National Scientific Center “Institute of Agrarian Economics”, agronews.ua reports.

“In 2025 and beyond, we expect the trend of annual export growth of 10-15% to continue, while seed imports will stabilize at $350-400 million,” the expert emphasized.

According to the scientist, the reduction in imports of grain and oilseed seeds is explained by several reasons. In particular, Ukraine has the opportunity to produce high-quality hybrid seeds of foreign selection at modern seed factories. This volume is sufficient not only to cover domestic demand, but also to supply the markets of the European Union.

The Importance of Proper Grain Drying: The Key to Quality and Profit

Grain drying is one of the most important stages in the process of post-harvest processing of agricultural crops. Not only the preservation of the crop, but also its quality, market value and, ultimately, the farmer’s profit depend on how correctly and timely it is carried out. After harvesting, grain usually has an increased moisture content (from 18% to 30% depending on the crop, weather conditions and region), which makes it vulnerable to spoilage. Moisture promotes the development of fungi, mold, bacteria and even insects, which can destroy stocks in a matter of weeks. Without proper drying, grain loses its marketable qualities: the taste deteriorates, the nutrient content decreases, and in some cases it becomes unsuitable for use or sale. The main purpose of drying is to reduce the moisture level to a safe value (this is 12-14% for most grain crops), which ensures stability during storage. Thus, for wheat, the optimal moisture content is 13-14%, for corn – about 13%, and for sunflower – 7-8%. Achieving these indicators allows you to avoid losses and preserve the crop for a long time.