A lot of this year's harvested corn is going into big grain bags on the ground for temporary storage till more permanent storage is available. Here are some helpful tips from Dr. Klein Ileleji at Purdue University on how to manage grain stored in the field in grain storage bags.

1. Locate the bags on firm, well-drained ground that is smooth and level, that has plenty of room for loading and unloading equipment to maneuver. You do not want any debris to be present that could puncture the bag.
2. Orient the bags in a north-south direction to minimize temperature variation along the length of the bag.
3. Avoid grain spills near the bags, since these will attract vermin to the bags. Rodents and vermin increase the likelihood of bag damage by chewing or clawing.
4. Keep folds at the base of the plastic bag to a minimum when filling, since folds are easy places for rodents to chew on the plastic grain bags.
5. Inform your insurance company that grain is being stored temporarily in grain bags.
6. Dry grain stored in grain bags is NOT hermetically sealed. Insects and molds can grow in these storage bags.
7. Corn and soybeans stored in bags should be at or below 15% and 13%, respectively.
8. Inspect bags frequently for tears and holes. Repairs should be made with sealants and tapes available from the bag's manufacturer.
9. Grain should not be stored in bags past the spring warm up. It is highly recommended to not store in bags longer than 4 months and never past the spring thaw.