INDUSTRY NEWS
Storing almonds in ' sausage ' bags
ABOVE : An auger was used to fill the grain storage bags with almonds . RIGHT : The resulting bags have a sausage shape and reflected heat well .
THE manager of a Western Australian almond orchard has turned to the grain industry for a solution to store his crop this year . Stephen Beckwith used about 20 grain bags , which when filled look like large sausages , but he admits the very dry conditions during the 2024 harvest really helped . “ We basically jagged it ,” he said . “ It wouldn ’ t work in an early season with green hull or leaves .” Shake and catch machinery was used to harvest his crop , and Mr Beckwith said this provided a clean sample . The kernel moisture was 4.5 per cent and hull moisture was under 11 per cent . An auger is used to fill the bags and Mr Beckwith said the machine was trialled at different speeds to avoid damaging the shell and kernel . “ Instead of forcing the almond through the auger it need to be gravity fed , this resulted in more bags being used because they couldn ’ t be jam packed ,” he said . Mr Beckwith said all the bags were inspected for holes and if any were found they were patched up . Data loggers were put in the bags to monitor relative humidity and temperature every 15 minutes . Mr Beckwith wanted to keep relative humidity below 60 per cent and said nothing went above 50 per cent . The single-use bags were white on the outside and black on the inside and reflected heat well . Phosphine tablets were used to fumigate the stored almonds for carob moth . Mr Beckwith said he followed the principles provided on the Grains Research and Development Corporation ’ s website . Opening the bags was a slow process , which involved two or three people . One person operated the loader , while others helped sweep up the almonds . While grain growers use an auger to empty their bags , Mr Beckwith said this was never on his radar . Mr Beckwith said he ’ s unlikely to do it again , but admits it does have a place . “ It ’ s an economical option if something goes wrong and processing capacity is an issue due to unforeseen circumstances , but having said that you need a lot of things to go right to make it economical ,” he said .
industry . australianalmonds . com . au
33