Cost of Storing and Handling Grain and Controlling Dust in Commercial Elevators, 1971-72… Projections for 1973-74

This report develops the 1971-72 handling and storage costs associated with operating 175 commercial grain elevators in the United States. Standardized book costs for grain storage were 8.3 cents per bushel. Based on 1971-72 replacement value of the elevator's physical plant, the average yearly storage cost per bushel was 14.9 cents. Projecting storage costs to 1973-74 price levels and volumes shows an estimated 15 percent increase to 17.2 cents per bushel. A special study of 37 inland and port terminals shows capital and operating costs for dust control systems averaged 6.58 cents and 1.54 cents per bushel of storage capacity, respectively, and 1.16 and 0.27 cents per bushel of grain handled.