Silo

:For silos that store or launch missiles, see missile silo.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:For Silo, the Argentine writer, see Mario Rodr?guez Cobos.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Silos are structures for storing bulk materials. Most commonly silos are used in agriculture to hold grain or fermented feed known as silage.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Three types of silos are in widespread use today:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Tower silos
• Bunker silos
• Bag silos

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Tower silos

Tower silos are cylindrical structures, typically 12 to 24 ft (4 to 8 m) in diameter and 30 to 80 ft (10 to 25 m) in height. They can be made of many materials. Wood staves, concrete staves, cast concrete, and steel panels have all been used, and have varying cost, durability, and airtightness tradeoffs. Tower silos are usually unloaded from the top of the pile, originally by hand using a pitchfork, and most often today using mechanical unloaders. Bottom unloaders have been used at times, but have problems with difficulty of repair, and will not work when the silage sticks to the walls of the structure and will not fall down.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

An advantage of tower silos is that the silage tends to pack well due to its own weight, except in the top few feet. The tower silo was invented by Franklin Hiram King.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Bunker silos

Bunker silos are trenches, usually with concrete walls, that are filled and packed with tractors and loaders. The filled trench is covered with a plastic tarp to make it airtight. These silos are usually unloaded with a tractor and loader. They are inexpensive and especially well suited to very large operations.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Bag silos

Bag silos are heavyweight plastic bags, usually around 6 to 8 ft (2 to 2? m) in diameter, and of variable length as required for the amount of material to be stored. They are packed using a machine made for the purpose, and sealed on both ends. They are unloaded using a tractor and loader or skid-steer loader. The bag is discarded in sections as it is torn off. Bag silos require little capital investment. They can be used as a temporary measure when growth or harvest conditions require more space, though some farms use them every year.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Also, a name given to any large cylindrical structure with impervious walls, e.g. missile silo.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Bulk materials: Redirect Bulk cargo...

Agriculture: Agriculture is the process of producing food, feed, fiber and other desired products by the cultivation of certain plants and the raising of domesticated animals (livestock). The practice of agriculture is also known as farming, while scientists, inventors and others devoted to improving farming met...

Grain: The word grain has several meanings, most being descriptive of a small piece or particle....