Potatoes 
Losses of stored potatoes are due to (1) cuts and bruises, oc- 
curring in harvesting and handling into storage, that are not 
properly healed during the early storage period, (2) shrinkage 
and sprouting, (3) freezing, and (l) disease. The.number and 
roughness of handling operations affect the number of bruises 
and cuts, though mature potatoes are injured less than immature 
ones, and warm potatoes less than cold ones. 
Proper regulation of storage temperature and relative humidity 
promotes healing of cuts and bruises, reduces shrinkage and 
sprouting losses during the holding period, and controls certain 
storage diseases. Such regulation is obtained by proper construc- 
tion and insulation of the building and by controlled ventilation. 
Sorghum, Grain 
Damage from mold and heating constitute the principal losses, 
except those due to insects, occurring in storage. The main 
causes are excessive moisture when put into storage and wetting 
because of leaky bins, or emergency storage in piles on the 
ground. The grain sorghum stalk is still green when the seed is 
mature. Pieces of wet stalks mixed with the grain raise the 
moisture content above the safe storage level. Severe mold often 
develops when the grain contains excessive amounts of stalk frag- 
ments and cracked seed, 
Soybeans 
High moisture is responsible for most soybean storage losses. 
Either the soybeans are wet when stored or they become damp in 
bins with leaky roofs and walls or defective floors. Mold and 
heating occur under these conditions, causing losses in quality 
as well as quantity. Mold action usually results in a high acidity 
of the oil, which reduces its commercial value. Seeds broken in 
moving into storage are more susceptible to mold damage than sound 
seeds. Losses are estimated at 3 to 6 percent or about $6,000,900, 
Storage Losses Due to Insects 
(Table 13) 
The losses of stored grains due to insects can be estimated easily 
because of the availability of production and storage figures on the 
various grain crops. There was some change in the losses during the 
10-year period 192-51. Support loans caused more grains to be held 
on the farm for the full storage season and thus increased losses. 
Commodity Credit Corporation holdings were high early and again at 
the end of the period, which also increased losses. On the other 
' hand, new varieties, better storage facilities, and improved storage 
procedures tended to decrease losses. 
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