Anyone can collect a grain sample

During the harvest season, grain samples need to be collected from the dryer.

James Nelson of Audubon, Iowa, devised a way to make that task both easier and safer: He put a sliding sample door on the auger that takes corn away from his dryer.

Pipe welded to the sliding gate makes both a handle and spout. The door slides in a track, and a stop keeps the gate from sliding all the way out.

When 1¼-inch holes in the 3-inch-wide split clamp and the 8-inch auger tubing line up, the corn falls through.

Before he built the sliding grain sample door three years ago, Nelson says he had to use the factory-installed one underneath the continuous flow dryer.

"It is not in a convenient location. It's hard to get in underneath there with the dry auger coming out right next to it. It's tight under there and low, so it's difficult to position the bucket," he says.

He points out that bearings and pulleys are turning in the area near the factory door. Although they're covered with shields, "It's still better to be farther away. I also wanted my oldest child to be able to collect a grain sample for me," he says.

"Now it's at such a convenient height, I can fill my coat pocket with corn if I don't have the sample bucket with me."