Grain Storage Innovations where Grain Bunkers Take Centre Stage

Grain storage is a critical component of the agriculture industry, ensuring the preservation and quality of harvested crops for growers and handlers. Over time, traditional vertical storage options like silos are slowly becoming out of reach for some growers due to their rising purchase and installation costs, driving the need for alternative solutions. In response to rising costs and the state of our present economy, grain bunker storage has grown in popularity over recent years, offering cost-effective, flexible, and efficient on-farm storage options without compromising on quality and value.

The Rise of Grain Bunker Storage

Grain bunker storage presents several advantages over traditional silos. Firstly, it requires a significantly lower initial investment, making it accessible to a wider range of growers. Additionally, its scalability allows for future expansion to meet evolving needs, providing flexibility for agricultural operations. As a bonus, managing grain bunkers on-farm typically requires less maintenance, reducing labour and operational costs in the long run. For these reasons, grain bunker storage presents itself as a viable and optimal investment for affordable, scalable, and adaptable grain storage solutions.

Innovations in Grain Bunker Storage

Depending on a growers capacity requirements, long-term goals and site setup, there are diverse wall options to choose from. These include:

• Flat pad bunkers: Flat pad bunkers are the most cost-efficient and simplest type of pad. These have no walls therefore require earthmoving equipment to form a slightly raised pad with gradient 0.8-1% towards the face or front of the bunker, and a slight camber either side. Flat pad bunkers allow for easy loading and unloading with trucks, loaders and augers able to enter from any direction or side.
• Earth walls: Made from compacted earth or soil, these walls increase the capacity per square meter on the same size pad, making it slightly more cost-efficient on tarp cost per tonne. A formed earth wall also provides a point where the auger operator can easily see and move the auger when required. The natural wall provides an additional barrier for rodents and pests seeking to enter under the tarp.
• Poly Walls: Poly walls provide versatility and high performance. At Polytex, we offer durable bunker walls that are weather resistant, easy to install & transport, reusable for years, and require no earthworks.
• Concrete walls: As an alternative, concrete walls are a solution that offers a more permanent and secure fixture. However, concrete walls also have higher initial costs and longer installation times.

New Innovation: Poly Bunker Walls by Polytex

Polytex’s Poly Bunker Walls are uniquely designed for on-farm grain storage with practicality and performance in mind. These walls are durable and weather resistant, ensuring longevity. They can be easily installed with 1-2 people and require no earthworks making them convenient for growers, especially during peak harvest seasons. Circular indents can be cut out for fumigation enhancing overall grain quality and safety. Poly Bunker Walls are also environmentally friendly and manufactured with reusability and waste reduction in mind.

Flexibility, Scalability and Cost-effectiveness of Grain bunkers

Overall, grain bunkers offer unmatched flexibility for growers, allowing for easy expansion to accommodate larger harvests. With the choice of wall options, the bunkers can be used to store grain, seeds, and other materials like fertilisers, soils and more.

One of the most significant advantages of grain bunkers is their affordability compared to traditional silos. When considering the overall cost, including initial investment and long-term maintenance, bunkers often prove to be a more cost-effective option. Additionally, the long-term cost savings associated with bunker systems further exemplify why they are a great choice for agricultural producers.

How Polytex can help

As a leading provider of innovative grain bunker solutions, Polytex is committed to assisting growers and handlers with their grain storage needs.

At Polytex, we can supply a comprehensive grain bunker package that includes everything you will need to set up your grain bunker for on-farm storage calculated based on your preferred storage capacity.

We also supply bunkers, ground sheets and bunker walls separately and promptly during peak harvest seasons ensuring growers can scale their storage capacity as needed without delays or interruptions. Our grain bunkers are also wildlife-resistant and can be stored with minimal space requirements, providing added convenience.

With Polytex’s bunker wall solutions, growers can benefit from enhanced durability, weather resistance, and ease of installation, ensuring the preservation and quality of their harvested crops. If you are looking for new and innovative solutions for storing grain and other agricultural produce and materials, contact our friendly team on 1300 059 003 or at [email protected] to find out more.