b"GRAIN DRYINGGathering Data on Grain DryingA three-year study from Team Alberta is looking at what the cost of drying grain really is.GRAIN DRYING HAS become more common on farms across the Prairies, especially in Alberta, over the last decade. The process is required some years to keep grain in optimal condition, however little data is known exactly what the costs of it are.One of the big things that we find in grain storage in the Prairies is a lack of information in terms of what is the efficiency of grain drying systems with the current size of equipment, Lorne Grieger, an agricultural engineer at the Prairie Machinery Institute (PAMI), says in phone interview. That was a real gap when you start looking at what is the energy consumption? And how does that fit into what's the current price of the commodities as well as production costs with an eye to the towards the future.The full cost of using grain dryers has also been in the headlines, after the federal government implemented a carbon tax in 2019. Initially, grain drying was not exempt from the tax, which increased drying costs substantially. However, earlier this year the federalA diesel-powered flameless heater grain dryer used on Lenz Farms Ltd. by Bentley, Alta. PHOTO: JASON LENZgovernment announced there would be tax rebates coming for grain drying.To take a closer look at the cost, TeamThe Study currently using on the farms, and then Alberta, which includes Alberta Barley,For the three-year study, select in-binunderstanding some of the variations Alberta Canola, Alberta Pulse Growerssupplemental drying systems andand putting those into buckets to try and and the Alberta Wheat Commission,heated air-drying systems in Albertagain a greater depth of knowledge for the started a three-year study in 2019 underwere monitored during the 2019 andgrain drying systems, Grieger explains.the Canadian Agricultural Partnership2020 harvest seasons to assess theIn 2019, the first year of the study (CAP). The group contracted PAMI totypical energy consumption farmersallowed researchers to gather initial data provide technical assistance on theexperienced. Equipment was installedand fine tune any gaps they found. In project, while farmers across Albertaon participating farmers bins allowingthe second year more data was collected, volunteered to provide on farm datafor data collection to be done. and then the third year is for reviewing about their own grain dryers. 3D EnergyThis allowed us to put things incollected data.Limited is also involved and in charge ofperspective in terms of what are theBoth indirect and direct-fired systems data collection and analysis.different types of systems producers arewere studied to understand the impact 18seed.ab.ca"