Types of Silos and Their Benefits in Farming

If you own or work on a farm, you understand how important it is to keep your products safe and stored. Silos are large structures that can hold large quantities of products under the right conditions to avoid problems, but you can also find smaller options. There are different types of silos with particular benefits for farming that will fit the needs of your products; it is important to understand each one’s characteristics to make an informed decision.

Tower Silo

This structure is one of the largest and holds products inside effectively. Depending on what you need to store, you can find or build them with different materials such as wood or concrete. This type is best to have close to the crops for easy storage and somewhere with easy access for transportation. Because they stand vertically, they do not take up a lot of space and keep a low moisture index.

Bunker Silo

Bunker silos come at a low cost with a large volume capacity for storage. Unlike tower silos, this type expands to the sides to take up more land, but you can divide them into smaller rooms. It is necessary to have a tractor to unload and transport the products. Bunker silos require less maintenance and are usually open, providing moisture and more external exposure.

Storage Pile Silo

This is one of the most common and traditional ways to store grains and products. It’s an inexpensive way to keep your farm well organized and ready for the next harvest. With this type of silo, it is essential to keep grains dry to prevent losses; they are ideal for short-term storage but require constant attention and maintenance.

Silo Bags

This method consists in storing your grains or products inside plastic bags that come in different sizes that you can pile on top of each other. This one, out of the different types of silos, allows for flexible and versatile storage with a low number of losses. They require a lot of attention because any possible rupture could damage and affect the whole bag.