Birds and insects are spoiling my drying grain in the open, what can I do?

Open yard drying loses grain to birds, gets contaminated by dust and droppings, and can be reinfested by insects, but a few simple changes reduce all of this. Dry on a clean pucca floor, tarpaulin or sheet rather than bare soil, which keeps out grit and ground moisture. Spread the grain in a thin layer and turn it regularly so it dries fast and evenly, giving insects and mould less time. To keep birds off, you can cover the lot with a light net, dry near the house where there is activity, or use a covered solar dryer, which keeps out birds, dust and rain together while drying faster. Avoid leaving grain out overnight, because dew adds moisture back and night pests and rodents move in; bring it in or cover it. Once the grain reaches safe moisture, cool it and move it straight into clean, sealed storage so it is not re-exposed. A solar dryer is the cleanest option if you can get or build one, and many KVKs and schemes support low cost designs. Verify the right drying level for your crop with your local agriculture office.