What are the differences between silos and Grain Bins in Southern Idaho? People with no experience in any sort of agriculture venture probably recognize the basic differences in appearance. Silos are tall and thin compared with grain bins, which are larger in diameter and generally shorter. The bins are made of steel, and people can see the silver metal from a long distance away. On flat land, a group of bins on the horizon catches the eye as someone travels along the highway. Silos can be made of steel or concrete, and they have a similar noticeable effect when agricultural land stretches far off into the visible distance.
Grain Bins in Southern Idaho area typically are used for storing dry substances such as wheat, soybeans, barley, oats and corn that will be sold at some point in the future. Silos more commonly hold food for cattle and other livestock on the farm. Grain bins can be used for that purpose as well, but they are suitable for other uses. For example, they can hold food that will later be eaten by humans and companion animals. They can hold corn that will be used in ethanol production. They also can contain an enormous amount of livestock feed that can be sold and transported to other regions by rail and by truck.
People who aren’t well-acquainted with Idaho generally don’t think of the state as a corn producer. They also don’t think of Idaho as a dairy state. Southern Idaho is primarily known for potato production. Nevertheless, the state’s corn production has been steadily increasing for more than a decade. Much of that corn is used to feed dairy cows, as Idaho has quietly become one of the top milk producers in the country. Dairy farmers who do not choose to grow their own animal feed can buy it after the feed has been stored in Grain Bins. Those containers are built and supplied by an organization such as Leon James Construction Co., Inc.. Having the corn grown and stored right in the same state allows farmers to spend less money on transport costs from the Midwest.
