Should you put a Grain Screener in your Grain System?

Should You Put a Grain Screener in Your Grain System?

When designing or upgrading a grain handling system, one piece of equipment often overlooked—but critically important—is the grain screener. A grain screener removes fines, beeswings, broken kernels, foreign materials (FM), and lightweight particles before the grain moves into storage or drying. But is it worth the investment?

Let’s break down the pros, cons, and key considerations to help you decide whether a screener deserves a place in your operation.

What Is a Grain Screener?

A grain screener is a piece of equipment that separates unwanted material from clean grain using a series of vibrating or rotating screens. It’s typically placed after a grain dryer and before the storage bins and can be customized based on the type of grain you handle—corn, soybeans, wheat, etc.

Where are they normally installed?

Good question.  The most common spots we see screeners are:

1. After the grain dryer on the ground.  For smaller capacities, under 3,000 BPH this is the most cost effective place to put the screener.  These can be stand alone units, or can often be spliced into an existing auger system or dryer unload auger.  There is typically an aspirator or blower that would then be installed and blow the fines to a separate location.
2. After the grain dryer, but in air below a bucket elevator discharge.  We often see this location on larger grain setups and higher capacities even up to 50,000 BPH!  Installing a screener below a bucket elevator often increases the height of your whole system (legs, towers, length of spouts, etc) by at least 10 feet.  There would be a designated spout down to a screening tank or dumpster to remove the fines.  

Benefits of Adding a Grain Screener

1. Improved Grain Quality

• Removing fines and broken kernels helps maintain better overall grain condition in storage. Cleaned grain contributes to reduced insect life and less mold growth.  Clean grain stores better, lasts longer, and fetches a better price with less dockage.

2. Reduced Fire Risk

• Fines and dust are highly flammable, especially in and around dryers. A screener can reduce that risk significantly.

3. More Efficient Drying

• Clean grain dries more evenly and quickly. Fines and debris can clog airways or act as insulation, reducing dryer efficiency.

4. Less Wear on Equipment/ Maintenance

• Removing abrasive materials can reduce wear on augers, conveyors, and elevators—leading to fewer breakdowns and longer life for your equipment.  FM is known to cause challenges with spouts, sumps, gates, etc getting clogged and plugged.  

5. Better Marketing and Premiums

• Delivering cleaner grain can lead to fewer dockages and, in some cases, premiums from buyers who value quality.

6. SAFETY!

• Cleaned grain reduced spoilage, hot spots, crusting, bridging, plugged sumps, etc.  All of these contribute to greater risks for you the producers.  Mitigating these keeps people out of grain bins and away from danger.

Drawbacks to Consider

1. Upfront Cost

• Screeners range widely in price depending on size and capacity.  You will also need a tank or vessel to store the removed fines.  For some smaller operations, the ROI might take a few seasons.  Also, there is an argument that grain is sold on weight….and you are removing weight from your grain when you screen so you are removing value from your grain.

2. Maintenance

• Like any mechanical equipment, screeners require regular cleaning and occasional maintenance to stay efficient.
• You also need to get rid of the screenings.  Often these can be sold or used for feeding livestock.

3. Space and Layout

• Adding a screener requires space and planning. You may need to reconfigure parts of your grain system to fit it in properly.

When a Grain Screener Makes Sense

• You handle large volumes of grain or operate a commercial-scale system.
• You’ve had issues with grain quality, mold, or hot spots in storage.
• You’re experiencing dryer efficiency problems or high energy costs.
• You sell into markets that value clean grain (e.g., food-grade buyers, seed buyers).
• You have a use for the screenings such as having livestock in your operation.
• You’ve already invested in high-capacity storage, drying, or conditioning systems.

Final Thoughts

While a grain screener isn’t necessary for every farm, it can be a smart addition for operations focused on long-term grain quality, efficiency, and safety. Think of it as a preventative tool—one that can save you headaches during harvest and help protect your investment across the whole system.

If you’re considering adding one, talk to one of our grain handling experts at Agri-Systems to evaluate your current setup and see what models fit your capacity and grain types.