What affects storage time of processed grains?
Whole grains and oilseeds have longer storage lives than processed grains. The amount of fat in grain will directly impact storage time. High fat grains and oilseeds (oats, canola, flax, and sunflower) once processed (dry rolled, cracked) will decrease their storage by at least half. If weather or season changes, storage time, as a general rule, can again be decreased by half. For example, whole oats and barley if properly stored under consistent moisture and humidity will keep for at least one year without a loss in quality. If barley (1.5% fat) is dry rolled in the fall or winter, its storage life will be close to 6 months. However, if it is rolled in the summer, expect 3 months of storage before palatability becomes a concern when feeding. Since oats has 3.5% fat if it is rolled in the fall expect 3 to 4 months of storage. Whereas, if rolling oats in the summer, expect only 3 weeks of storage before the grain starts to go rancid, moldy and off taste.
