Crambe Conditioning and Storage

Crambe seed is small, round, and light weight (25 pounds per bushel). Because crambe has a low test weight and is a relatively bulky crop, transportation costs are greater than for small grain and corn, and similar to sunflower. Equipment for transportation and facilities for storage must be tight to avoid loss of the seed. Before drying and storage, the seed should be passed through a roller screen or scalper to remove excess foreign material.

Crambe seed should be stored and marketed at a moisture content of 10 percent or less. Calibrations to determine crambe seed moisture with the Motomco electronic moisture tester have been developed. If using oil sunflower standard charts when testing crambe seed moisture, the moisture tester reading will be about 1 to 2 percentage points low depending on the brand and moisture range.

If seed is harvested at high moisture, natural air or artificial drying can be used. Do not dry seed with unheated air if seed moisture exceeds 20 percent. To maintain seed quality, a maximum drying temperature of 110 degrees Fahrenheit is recommended. Bin-drying with unheated air requires a minimum airflow of 1 cfm per bushel. During storage, the seed should be checked at regular intervals for heating or other problems. To prevent heating, aerate the seed with a minimum airflow of 0.1 cfm per bushel. Aeration should be continued until seed moisture and temperature equilibrium has been maintained throughout the bin.