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Check grain weekly during the fall and spring, when outdoor temperatures are changing rapidly. Normally, you only need to check good quality grain every two weeks during the winter. Establish a day of the week to check the bin, put it on your calendar, and perform the following steps:
*Observe the grain by climbing into the bin.
*Look for crusty, wet, sticky, or frozen grain. Look at the roof for condensation.
*Reach into the grain to detect heating.
*Grab two handfuls of grain from arms depth and smell them for musty, moldy odors.
*Use a metal rod to poke into the corn mass in several places, looking for hard, compacted or moist masses. Attach a thermometer to the rod or feel for warmth.
*On clear, cold days when the air and grain are about the same temperature, run the aeration fan briefly and smell the exhaust for bad odors.
*Cover the fan intake after aeration to prevent air and rodents from entering.
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