The farm that provides drying services for soybeans, corn, and other crops abandoned its wood-chip/firewood boiler two years ago and installed a Ukrainian-made AgroWarm pellet heat generator. The decision came amid the risk of a “wet year” after several dry seasons: they needed stability and a quick startup at peak season.
According to the owner, the switch delivered three immediate results:
- Economics. Cost dropped from ~70-75 to 50-53 UAH per ton-percent (including electricity).
- Human factor. Instead of four people at the old boiler, now one operator is enough for both the dryer and the heat generator.
- Technology. The unit operates continuously for 72 hours, maintaining temperature “like gas,” with ash cleaning once every 4 days (10-15 minutes).
Key performance indicators:
- Corn 24-25% moisture: 240-250 t/day even in frost down to -7 °C.
- Fuel: A1-class pine pellet; the farm builds fuel reserves in summer.
- Electricity: low consumption; the heat generator is not sensitive to short power outages (automation switches it into safe mode).
- Safety & quality: no smell, no soot detected in grain; grain passes elevator and port inspections.
A few short quotes from the owner:
«On wood chips it was a disaster: overheating, melted grates, constant supervision. Here — start it and it runs for three days».
«We now pay 50-53 UAH per ton-percent instead of 70-75 — the savings are significant».
«It holds temperature like gas. Zero smell — both on corn and soybeans».
Season context: after a “dry” year many farms prepare for potential over-moisture. Switching to pellets with fast startup, stable temperature, and lower ton-percent cost allows them not to “sell straight from the field” but to dry and sell higher when the market recovers.
«Before — four people per shift. Now one person oversees everything, and the boiler just works», the owner concludes.
If you want, I can prepare a short social-media version (2-3 sentences + one quote) and a separate block “What does it cost in your case?” with a customized ton-percent calculator.
