granary

A granary is a storehouse for grain, including cereals such as wheat, maize, and rice. It may be attached to a farm building or be a standalone structure, and in modern farming the term also covers bulk storage silos. Its primary purpose is to protect harvested grain from moisture, pests, and theft, enabling long-term storage, later sale, or seed use.

Traditional granaries are built of durable materials such as wood, stone, or brick, often with elevated floors or stowable pallets to improve airflow and keep dampness away. Interiors are divided into bins or chests to separate lots. Ventilation, shading, and sometimes kilns or driers help control moisture content. Modern granaries use metal or reinforced concrete silos with aeration systems, moisture sensors, fumigation, and conveyor or belt handling.

Historically, granaries have been central to food security, providing a buffer against poor harvests and price swings. Some regions developed distinctive granary architecture, such as tall granary towers in parts of Europe, which stored grain and allowed movement of air.

In contemporary agriculture, granaries are part of integrated storage facilities, often managed as part of farm infrastructure or in commodity warehousing networks. Accurate stock records, moisture management, and pest control are essential to maintaining grain quality during storage.