Work out moisture content of grain instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.
Wet-basis moisture is water as a fraction of total weight and is the figure used in grain trading. Dry-basis moisture divides by the dry matter instead and is used in drying engineering. Water to remove from a lot to reach a target is lot weight x (current MC - target MC) / (100 - target MC).
Moisture content
MC wet basis % = (wet - dry) x 100 / wet; MC dry basis % = (wet - dry) x 100 / dry
Water removal
Water to remove = lot weight x (MC now - MC target) / (100 - MC target)
Wet basis, always. A moisture meter reading of 14% means 14% of the total weight is water.
Around 12-13% for cereals in ambient storage and below 9-10% for oilseeds. Above 14% moulds and insects multiply and grain can heat and spoil within weeks.