Grain Auger

A grain auger is a screw-type conveyor dedicated to moving dry, free-flowing grain and oilseeds. It bridges the steps between combine, transport, drying, and storage — for example transferring grain from a truck up into a storage bin, or drawing grain back out of a bin for loading and sale.

Augers vary in tube diameter, length, and drive, which together determine reach, incline, and throughput. Related handling equipment includes belt conveyors and pneumatic systems, which handle grain more gently but are generally more costly than a simple auger.

1. Grain flows into a hopper at the lower intake end of the auger
2. A helical screw inside the tube, driven by PTO or motor, rotates continuously
3. The turning flighting carries grain up the inclined tube
4. Grain discharges through a spout into a bin, truck, or cart at the upper end
5. The auger is repositioned and its angle adjusted to reach different structures

The grain auger is a link in the post-harvest handling chain that connects harvest, drying, and storage. Its capacity often influences how quickly grain can be moved into store at harvest peak, and augers are used again later to reclaim grain for drying, blending, or outloading.

Grain augers are associated with serious entanglement and electrocution hazards: the exposed intake, rotating flighting, and drivelines can catch clothing or limbs, and tall augers raised near power lines pose an electrocution risk. Guarding, shutting off and locking out power before clearing blockages, and keeping clear of the intake are core safety practices.