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Hay, Forage & Livestock EquipmentAugers and Grain Handling
Grain augers move feed and crops quickly, and they injure farmers every year. Understanding the types, the setup and the hazards helps you handle grain without taking foolish risks.
Key points
- Look up for power lines every time you raise or move an auger.
- Never run an auger without intake guards and shields.
- Lock out power before clearing or cleaning.
- Never enter a grain bin without training and a lifeline plan.
- Inspect flighting, bearings and guards regularly.
What does a grain auger do?
An auger is a tube with a rotating screw inside called flighting. It lifts grain from a hopper or truck to a bin, wagon or trailer. Augers come as portable units powered by a tractor PTO, an electric motor or a gas engine. Permanent augers are built into bins and mills.
Some farms also use smaller augers to move feed from a bin into a mixer or bunk.
Walk through one full harvest or feeding day in your head. Where does the truck park, where does the grain go, and who stands where? Planning the flow shows you whether a longer auger, a second hopper or a different bin location would make the day safer and shorter.
Which kind of auger fits your operation?
Think about volume and distance. A small farm filling a single bin from a wagon needs less capacity than a grain operation moving thousands of bushels. Longer and wider tubes move more grain but are heavier, harder to move and more dangerous to raise near power lines.
Check the manufacturer's information for the PTO speed, power and hitch the unit needs. Many augers run at standard PTO speeds, commonly 540 rpm, but confirm in your manual.
- Portable PTO or engine-driven for flexibility.
- Electric for fixed locations.
- Swing-away hopper for truck unloading.
- Smaller feed augers for bunks and mixers.
How should you set up an auger safely?
Position the auger on firm, level ground with the wheels chocked. Raise and lower it slowly, and keep it away from overhead power lines at all times. Contact with a line can be fatal, and grain augers are a frequent cause. Look up before every move.
Make sure the intake guard is in place, and never run the unit without it. Follow the driveline shielding requirements in the manual.
Many injuries happen when someone tries to move an auger while it is still partly raised. Lower it fully, check overhead and ground clearance, and have a second person watch the path if you can.
What are the main grain auger hazards?
Entanglement is the top danger. Moving flighting can catch gloves, clothing, boots and hair, and the injuries are severe. Never reach into the intake or step on a running auger, and never try to clear grain with a hand or foot while the auger is turning.
Shut off the power and lock it out before any cleaning, adjusting or clearing. Stored grain itself is dangerous. A person can be buried in flowing grain in a bin in seconds. Never enter a bin without proper training, a lifeline and an observer outside, and follow OSHA and extension guidance on grain bin entry.
How do you keep an auger running well?
Inspect the flighting for wear, check for cracks in the tube, and look at the drive components. Grease bearings and driveline joints as the manual says. Check that the guards and shields are intact and the hitch and lift cable are in good condition.
Run it empty occasionally to find odd noises, then fix what you hear. A worn or bent flight can scrape the tube and cause damage.
How can you avoid common grain handling problems?
Do not run damp grain through equipment that is not made for it, and do not let moldy grain sit. Dust is a fire and explosion hazard in enclosed spaces. Keep the area clean, and keep ignition sources away from dusty areas.
Plan the job before the hurry of harvest begins. A tired operator in a rush makes the mistakes that injure.
Keep a charged fire extinguisher where you work, and keep the work area free of piled dust and chaff.
When should you call in help?
Hire a qualified electrician for permanent electric augers and motors, and ask the dealer or manufacturer about gearbox or flighting replacement. Local extension offices and farm safety groups often run grain safety training, including rescue awareness for first responders. It is worth attending.
Sources and further reading
Organization homepages are linked so you can search them for current guidance on this topic.