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Farm Operations, Facilities & EquipmentCommodity Shed Organization
A commodity shed holds some of the most expensive feed on the farm, and a messy one wastes money every week. This guide covers bay layout, labeling, moisture control, pests and the records that keep ration changes smooth.
Key points
- Give each commodity its own labeled bay with solid walls.
- Plan loader and truck paths and keep people out of the loader lane.
- Keep feed dry with a sound roof, drainage and a sealed floor.
- Control pests and keep chemicals out of the shed.
- Count inventory on a schedule and keep delivery records.
What the shed has to do
A commodity shed stores purchased grain, byproducts and other ingredients between delivery and the mixer. It has to keep feed dry, keep it separate, and let a loader reach each bay without trouble. If any of those fail, you pay for it in spoiled feed, ration errors or lost time.
Before you move anything, stand at the door with your nutritionist's ration sheet in hand and ask whether a new employee could find every ingredient in a minute. If not, the layout needs work.
Keep the shed tidy enough that a mistake stands out. A clean floor shows a leak or a spill right away, and an organized wall of labels shows a missing ingredient before the mixer is loaded.
Bay layout and labeling
Give each commodity its own bay with solid walls high enough to hold the pile and stop it sliding into the next one. Put the feeds you use most closest to the door, and feeds that are delivered in bulk closest to where the truck can unload.
Label every bay on the wall and, if you can, on the floor. Use the same names that appear in the ration. A bay with a vague label is a bay that eventually gets the wrong feed in it.
Where feeds are alike in color or texture, such as two meals or two grain mixes, add a physical barrier and a bold label. A wrong scoop of one into the other can upset the ration for days.
- Solid walls between bays so feeds cannot mix
- Large, clear labels that match the ration sheet
- Most-used feeds closest to the mixer route
- Separate spot for byproducts that are wetter or heavier
Loader access and traffic
Leave enough room for the loader to turn and for a truck to unload. Plan one-way movement where you can. Keep the loader bucket low when traveling and watch overhead clearance at doors and rafters.
Keep people on foot out of the loader lane. A marked walkway, good lighting and a rule that nobody steps into the shed while a loader is running will prevent many close calls. Follow equipment manufacturer and OSHA guidance.
Check overhead clearance and door width for the tallest delivery truck and the loader with a full bucket. Mark the clearance height on the door frame where drivers can see it.
Keeping feed dry and sound
Roof leaks, wet floors and blowing rain are the main causes of spoilage. Fix the roof, direct runoff away from the building and slope the floor so water does not stand. A raised or sealed floor helps resist ground moisture.
Wet feeds such as some byproducts have their own handling needs. Ask your nutritionist and supplier how long each ingredient can safely sit and how to store it. Throw out anything moldy, hot or off-smelling, and do not feed it.
Walk the shed after every heavy rain and look for damp floors and wet corners. Early notice lets you move feed before it spoils.
Pests, birds and cleanliness
Rodents and birds spoil feed and spread contamination. Keep doors closed, seal holes, sweep spilled feed promptly and remove old residue from corners and edges. Do not leave open bags lying around.
Keep pesticides and other chemicals out of the feed shed. If you use bait or traps, put them where animals and people cannot reach them and keep a record. Ask your veterinarian or extension office about a pest control plan.
Inventory and records
Count what is on hand on a set schedule and compare it with what the ration says you should have used. A simple whiteboard or notebook works. Large gaps between expected and actual use are a sign of waste, spoilage or a mixing error.
Record delivery dates, suppliers and any batch details the supplier gives you. If a feed is ever questioned, those records speed up the answer. Keep delivery tickets and any feed labels with them.
Compare invoices with your counts so you catch short deliveries early. Ask suppliers for copies of any feed tags and keep them filed by date.
Common mistakes
Letting piles slump into neighboring bays, buying more than the shed can keep fresh, using unlabeled bags, and keeping chemicals near feed. Another is changing the ration and forgetting to change the labels.
Review the layout each time the ration changes in a big way. A fresh look every year, with the crew in the room, catches small problems before they become costly ones.
Sources and further reading
Organization homepages are linked so you can search them for current guidance on this topic.