In-Field Management: A few sprouts on 5% or less of ears are unlikely to cause problems with grain quality. However, if serious sprouting problems have developed, harvesting as soon as possible and drying grain adequately are the best ways to keep the problem from getting worse.
Drying: Consider drying affected grain at a kernel temperature of 120 F to kill and desiccate the developing sprout. Also consider removing an additional point of moisture (dry to 14% rather than 15%, for example) to improve storability.
Screening: After drying, use a rotary screen, gravity screen or perforated auger housing section to screen the grain prior to storage. The goal is to remove as much of the desiccated sprout material as possible.
Storage: With lower quality grain, it is critical to employ all best management practices for grain storage:
"Core" the bin by removing 10% of the total bin capacity after filling to remove fines that accumulate in the center.
Aerate by running fans to cool the grain prior to winter.
Monitor grain carefully for hot spots or spoilage, especially if sprouted grain may be consolidated in pockets in the bin:
- Lock out power.
- Climb into the bin to see, feel, and smell the grain.
- Check the grain surface for crusting, wet areas and molds.
- Check grain temperature and moisture.
- Probe the grain mass to check for "hot spots," molds and insects.
- Check grain at least every 2 weeks throughout the storage period to assess condition and catch any problems early.
- If problems are found, correct them immediately.
Feeding: If grain molds have developed, check grain for toxins before feeding it to livestock (especially female breeding stock).
Marketing: Long-term storage of lower quality grain is risky. Attempt to move sprouted grain through the system early to minimize grain quality changes in storage.