Storability of Farmers Stock Peanuts at Two Moisture Levels in Mechanically and Naturally Ventilated Miniature Warehouses

Farmers stock peanuts from the same field dried to either 8 or 10% seed moisture content were stored for 6 months (October through March) in mechanically and naturally ventilated miniature metal warehouses. The initial temperatures for the 8% moisture content peanuts were 2–3 C higher than those for the 10% moisture content peanuts. This differential was maintained until early February. Relative humidities, 10 percentage points higher in the 10% initial moisture content peanuts began to equilibrate in December and were similar by late January. Final moisture content of the peanuts from the two mechanically ventilated warehouses was about 7% compared to 7.5% in the two naturally ventilated warehouses. Only small changes in total carbonyls and free fatty acids occurred during storage in the warehouses and sensory evaluation after storage indicated no significant differences among treatments within the medium and No. 1 sizes. No aflatoxin was detected in any seed size category before or after storage. Results indicated that quality of farmers stock peanuts, initial moisture content at 10% or less, can be maintained when stored in a properly constructed and operated mechanically or naturally ventilated warehouse.