Chief Agri, a subsidiary of Chief Industries, Inc. based in Lincoln, Nebraska, USA, recently announced a partnership with fellow Nebraska-based company RealmFive to jointly launch a new generation of smart grain bin technology called Red Connect.
The Red Connect smart grain bin system combines carbon dioxide monitoring, odor sensing, and inventory visibility technologies to detect grain quality issues and spoilage. It monitors both the headspace above the grain and the area beneath the grain mass, providing a more comprehensive and accurate view of storage conditions compared to traditional methods relying solely on temperature. The system utilizes RealmFive's proprietary fan technology to automate aeration. Its foundational fan control system has been validated at multiple commercial grain sites, delivering trusted automated, condition-based aeration control to operators, helping protect grain quality, reduce energy consumption, and minimize manual intervention.
The Red Connect smart grain bin system also employs technology that can replace traditional temperature cables. The smart fans do not rely on single-point readings but instead perform automated aeration based on verified patterns using environmental data from multiple zones within the bin. All data visualization and control functions are powered by RealmFive's SMARTSITES platform, allowing customers to instantly access bin data, receive alerts, and perform remote management via mobile devices.
Mark Kjar, President and General Manager of Chief Agri, stated: "This partnership has allowed us to rethink what smart grain bin technology should be. By moving beyond temperature cables and integrating new sensing and control capabilities, we are offering a solution that better reflects how grain is actually stored and managed today." He emphasized that Red Connect is designed to serve a broad range of customers, from individual producers to large commercial operations, with its scalable architecture supporting global deployment.
Steve Tippery, CEO of RealmFive, added: "Chief Agri aims to move beyond temperature-cable-based monitoring to build a smarter and more scalable foundation for grain storage. Together, we have integrated this capability directly into Chief's storage systems, delivering a unified solution that can detect risks earlier, intelligently automate aeration, and provide operators with a higher level of control and accountability." Travys Woodside, Vice President of International Sales at Chief Agri, pointed out that flexibility and scalability are critical for global customers, and Red Connect provides a modern monitoring and control platform suitable for both farm and commercial grain bins.
As companies both headquartered in Nebraska, Chief Agri and RealmFive are committed through this partnership to solving practical challenges in grain storage, starting with local producers and gradually expanding to other states and international markets. The launch of the Red Connect smart grain bin system marks a new step forward in the integration, automation, and data-driven aspects of smart grain bin technology, with the potential to enhance global grain storage efficiency and management levels.
