Types and Sizes of Grain Bins
Grain bins come in a variety of shapes and sizes. As a result, you can expect to see them carry a lot of different price tags. So the types and sizes of grain bins you see on farms will be much different. In fact, they are used to store a lot more than grain.
Some farms use them to store other loose materials like animal feed, and manufacturers often use them to store materials such as plastic pellets, wood chips, dried coffee beans, and more.
If you’re searching for the right grain bin for your specific needs, then you’ve likely been overwhelmed by the vast amount of information available.
Types of Small Grain Bins
Small grain bins are small enough that most homeowners can assemble them on-site. That one factor alone significantly cuts the costs of adding one to a property. But what people love about them the most is the flexibility they provide. We’re seeing homesteaders store wood pellets and livestock feed in these convenient storage bins. You can even use them for storing feed for small to medium-sized chicken coops.
While there are a variety of shapes and sizes to choose from, we’ll focus on the two that are most commonly found. 64 and 84-bushel capacity grain storage bins are what we find on most properties. Both are the same diameter but the 84-bushel grain storage bin is taller to accommodate the extra storage. As a result, it’s also slightly heavier. Expect to pay around $2000 for small grain bins.
Of course, the exact specifications and price will depend on the manufacturer, so these are just estimates. Keep that in mind when shopping for the right storage bin.
Benefits of Small Grain Bins
The two big benefits are versatility and cost. So let’s take a closer look at some of the other benefits that small grain bins have to offer.
- Small grain bins are used to store a lot of different items including heating pellets, seeds, animal feed, and grain, obviously.
- Stores cubed items as long as they don’t exceed 2’’
- Protects materials from the elements and pests.
- Easy to load and unload materials.
- Easy to install.
- Lower price than silos.
Portable Grain Storage Bins
Portable grain storage bins are a great option if you need mobility with your storage. These bins can be hooked to a tractor and hauled around. As you might expect, they don’t offer as much storage capacity as foundational storage bins but what they lack in capacity they make up for in mobility.
If you are planning to use a grain storage bin to store livestock feed, then this is a great option. You can simply move the storage bin to the livestock location rather than having to haul feed back and forth.
Large Grain Storage Bins
Large grain bins, otherwise known as silos, are designed for large farms so most homesteaders won’t have a justification for the cost. But if we’re looking at different-sized grain storage bins, they at least deserve a brief section.
Grain silos come in two major types – concrete and metal. As you might imagine, concrete silos are usually cheaper, but they take up more space than a metal unit. One significant difference between the two is corrosion: metal bins, by their nature, are susceptible to corrosion, whereas concrete is not.
Final Thoughts
Consider the uses before investing in a grain storage bin since that’s going to be a big factor in this investment. The smaller the grain bin, the easier it is to install so you will save money on construction. Regardless of the bin you choose, it will likely improve the operations on your farm or in your business.
