WECO Moisture Monitoring System Helps Optimize Peanut DryingWECO Moisture Monitoring System Helps Optimize Peanut Drying

WECO, a Duravant company, launched its PeanutTek moisture monitoring system not too long ago, and one company was excited to put the process into motion at its peanut plant.

Producers Peanut is an innovative industry leader based in Bartow, GA. Founded 20 years ago by a group of local farmers seeking to more effectively move their peanut crops to market, the business now dries over 25,000 tons of peanuts in just three months during their peak season.

In 2023, they transformed their process by installing WECO's PeanutTek active moisture monitoring system, which provides real-time, continuous in-shell moisture readings to maximize production efficiency, improve worker safety and enhance product quality.

"For decades, the peanut industry has relied on manual sampling to monitor moisture levels during drying, but it's been far from ideal. We had people using ladders to climb on top of trailers and get gallon-size samples, which was inconsistent and prone to errors. More importantly, we were wearing out our workers and safety was a tremendous concern,” said Ron Dozier, general manager at Producers Peanut. “The old approach was also inefficient – we had to collect samples several times per load, requiring constant attention and documentation."

Dozer said other types of nut processors were using sensor plates to monitor moisture during drying, and they saw the potential, so the company moved to find someone who could turn that vision into reality. "That’s what first led us to WECO. They have decades of experience with moisture monitoring, and we worked closely with them to adapt their technology specifically for peanuts," he added.

WECO's PeanutTek active moisture monitoring system

WECO's PeanutTek is an advanced active moisture monitoring system that utilizes a series of sensor plates installed in each semi-trailer or wagon to collect moisture data from a substantial sample size. The sensor plates continuously monitor the moisture content of the peanuts during the drying process, providing real-time data. The system can be programmed to automatically turn off burners when the moisture of a load reaches a predetermined set point. This ensures consistent drying across all loads, minimizing the risk of over drying or under drying. Additionally, PeanutTek provides up-to-date dryer temperatures, enabling fine-tuning of gas pressure to ensure all burners are operating at maximum efficiency and speed.

"PeanutTek has drastically improved our drying process,” said Dozier. “Now, we simply connect the load to the dryer and hook it up to the WECO system. No more climbing on trailers, collecting sample buckets and shelling the peanuts to determine the status. We get live moisture readings that I can monitor from my office, home or smart device, and I can even adjust settings remotely. Once the load reaches the desired moisture level, PeanutTek turns the dryer off instantly.”
Producers Peanut has also seen enhancements to product quality since implementing the PeanutTek system. By sampling a wider zone consistently and turning dryers off at precisely the right time, it achieves a more reliable moisture reading and superior dry time compared to traditional, manual methods. This improved precision is especially valuable for Producers Peanut’s seed peanut products, which require especially specific moisture levels to preserve germination potential. Dozier said the system also cut down on energy consumption.

PeanutTek moisture meter dashboard

PeanutTek’s inclusive software, AgTrack, facilitates its remote monitoring capabilities and data collection. By tracking crucial metrics like drying time and moisture curves, AgTrack provides valuable insights that help Producers Peanut continually refine their processes and make more informed decisions.