Better Binning, Better Blending

Recently, Greenstone hosted a binSight webinar, Better Binning, Better Blending with a the legendary Senior Product Manager, Allen Smith and special guest, Barb Grove, Quality Systems Manager at Central Valley Ag.

During the webinar they discuss challenges that impact quality and how to maximize the value of outbound grain through better binning, better blending opportunities.

Enjoy the condensed version of the webinar in video form and the content captured below.

Better Binning, Better Blending at a Glance

There is an option that allows facilities to view a bin and see when it was last cleaned or when a bin transfer was made. This information can be accessed in several reports and in the list view.

Daily communication is critical with scale operators at a location on where the max and mins are. Central Valley Ag Cooperative utilizes the “Remarks” field to communication to those at the scale and others who utilize the binSight bin board, to communicate which bins are used for what quality, which bin is holding grain with high moisture, contains some toxin, or has high damage. The CVA team considers the “Remarks” field as a phenomenal communication piece that provides added information about each bin that shows up at the scale and on reports.

Managers, Superintendents, and even Customer Service have access to view their bins at their entire facility. VP’s, Logistic Managers, Merchandisers, and Regional Managers can access binSight for their entire region or entire company. It allows them to toggle back and forth through all locations and even pull a quick report. As an example, they can run a quick report on grade quality that each location is seeing. Another example, Merchandisers can see the segregation of the quality or proteins of the grain and be able to keep track of the quality. This provides intelligence for them to market the grain accordingly or do a quick sale if needed.

Bin Inventory by Product Report

The “Bin Inventory Status” report is an impactful report that CVA utilizes.

“It’s such a nice looking report. I mean it is just organized great and has a great look to it. The report has easy readability,” said Barb Grove, Central Valley Ag.

When Barb is asked to capture information by her management team to view off grade grain, the bin inventory report is something she can quickly filter and capture across all 90 locations, in a matter of 10 to 15 seconds. She said she is even able to break down the report by annex, which provides information for each individual location. Giving her the ability to provide better binning, better blending for her business.

Product and Factors Report

The “Product and Factors” report allows multiple facilities to be selected, commodities and bins. This report allows the operator to macro model the quality and the amount occupied by those that have been selected and can target labor at locations. Bins can denote if they have sweep augers or bottoms that manually need addressed. “Product and Factors” report can capture what is in each bin and the intervention needed or what the manual amount is. If a contract quickly needs fulfilled, a quick scan can be conducted to see what bins can be used to fill the contract. It also captures what the quality of grain would be based on adding bins in or out.

“Quick ship option in this report is an important piece, especially on the Marketing side,” stated Barb. “If a location has a quantity, it doesn’t mean it is always shippable. This gives everyone a better idea how many trucks can be sent.”

Quality of Large Quantities

CVA uses the “Filter by day” option in binSight to capture the quality of grain throughout a bunker or large flat storage area. This feature helps them decide which section of the unconventional storage is desired from the buyer or what section is more shippable.

For larger diameter bins that have a longer-term storage, many times have carry-over crop. As an example, they may have carry-over crop in one section and new crop put on top. In this case, the location may use “Filter by Date” to get a better average of the bin. By using this feature, they can capture last year’s carry over quality, and know what section it is in the bin. binSight offers the ability to set bins as “First in First Out” and “Last in First out”.

Lab Sample

If crop has high scab damage and/or high vomitoxin, daily composites are typically ran. binSight offers the ability to add daily lab samples per bin, which in turn provides an average lab sample of the entire bin. Another feature binSight offers is the ability to void a lab sample. This feature is helpful in the event a location would need to perform this action.

Product Discount Report

The “Product Discount” report allows locations to understand what factors are on each bin. The factors give the ability to capture discounts against vendor contracts. Other options to select with this report include test weight discounts, defects, damage, or proteins. The report provides the total defects based on the discounts or premiums in each bin per bushel. It also gives site managers the intelligence to decide if blending is necessary to improve positions. “Product Discount” report is also a helpful tool to use at month-end. Applying a board price provides a transparent view of the lesser cost of the market.

Barb with CVA stated that the “Product Discount” report visually gives a location the chance to do something or blend, and not lose an extra penny or offend an already tight margin.

Pending/Model Blend

The “Pending Blend” report gives clear communication across locations to see what they can do using a pending or modeling blend to maximize what is on hand.

For example, if a location had #2 corn and now only has #1 corn, the “Pending Blend” report gives a view to the manager to see if another location has something that they may need help getting rid of. The “Pending Blend” report can be saved and pulled back up at a later point to execute. This simplifies the process of completing the blend in the future.