How to Calculate Grain Shrink

Calculating moisture shrink is a key component to successful grain marketing. Grain shrink is a percentage of weight loss due to drying and handling. Dry grain receives a higher dollar amount than wet grain, but will also weight less. It is imperative to determine whether grain will bring a higher price sold at its wet weight with high moisture, or should be dried and sold at a lower weight. Grain can be left in the field to dry or mechanically dried in a grain bin.

Weight of grain
Moisture tester
Calculator
Pencil
Paper

Instructions

Calculate Shrinkage
- 1
  
  Grain can be dried in the field or mechanically in a grain bin.
  
  Weigh your grain after harvesting. Write down the weight on a piece of paper. For example: 1,000 pounds of corn.
- 2
  Test grain moisture using a hand-held moisture tester. Write down the amount of moisture on your paper. For example: 25 percent moisture or 250 pounds of water and 75 percent grain or 750 pounds of grain.
- 3
  Test the moisture percentage after the grain has been dried. For example: 15 percent moisture. The grain has a 10 percent moisture loss or a loss of 100 pounds of water.
- 4
  Subtract the new percentage of moisture from the total weight. For example: 100 - 15 = 85 percent dry grain.
- 5
  Divide the total weight of grain by the new dry weight. For example: 750/.85 = 882 pounds.
- 6
  Divide total moisture loss in pounds by initial weight and multiply by 100. For example: 100/1000 x 100 = 10 percent water shrink.

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Instructions

Calculate Shrinkage