New grain moisture measurement tools introduced

Made by Canadian manufacturer Dryer Master the 2 units have been introduced to the UK by Kentra, the Yorkshire-based manufacturer of mixed flow grain dryers.

The new DM100 is a lower cost, less sophisticated version that still provides an element of control to relieve the workload of whoever is managing the dryer.”

Dryer Master is already a popular name on the market as its DM510 control system fully automates the grain drying process with minimal manual intervention. Now it has launched the new DM100 unit and the Moisture Monitor Pro. Barry Higginbottom of Kentra, said: “The new DM100 is a lower cost, less sophisticated version that still provides an element of control to relieve the workload of whoever is managing the dryer.”

Grain moisture is measured at the discharge point and adjustments to the discharge rate are made automatically when operator-set high, low and target moisture levels for each of 3 discharge speeds are hit. Unlike the fully automatic DM510, the DM100 requires the speed set points and moisture targets to be adjusted periodically to maintain optimum performance.

The new Moisture Monitor Pro records grain moisture and temperature at the discharge, with the option to add an intake sensor as well, to help operators achieve consistent results from fully manual control. As with the DM510 fully-automatic and DM100 semi-automatic systems, values are shown on a colour display, are accessible remotely using a mobile phone and can be downloaded to farm computer records. These features are also common to Dryer Master’s new Load Monitor, a system that can be used with batch dryers or to record the average moisture of entire lorry or trailer loads of grain at the intake of a feed or flour mill or a commercial grain store.

Barry added: “The sensor is fitted in the grain flow line, for example in a duct where grain passes from the intake pit to an elevator, and Load Monitor automatically starts logging as soon as the sensor detects grain flowing across it. “The finished record includes a consignment identifier and time stamp, and compared with sampling, using Load Monitor means there is no delay to tipping incoming consignments and the moisture reading will be fully representative of the bulk,” he said.