Grain Milling, Dry Bulk Food & Feed Handling worked example

Moisture Loss at 1.8% target moisture loss: a worked example in grain milling, dry bulk food & feed handling

Here is what the math looks like when conditions slip. We hold every other input steady and drop target moisture loss to 1.8%, then walk the calculation through step by step. Calculate moisture-related weight loss for grain, flour, meal, pellets, or dry ingredients by comparing moisture loss weight with the starting product weight.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Moisture loss weight: 1,800 lb (held at the documented default)
  • Starting product weight: 60,000 lb (held at the documented default)
  • Target moisture loss: 1.8 % (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 2.5)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Moisture loss rate = moisture loss weight ÷ starting product weight × 100.
  • Moisture loss rate works out to 3 % at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Moisture loss gap to target works out to -1.2 points at these inputs.
  • Moisture loss weight works out to 1,800 count at these inputs.
  • Starting product weight works out to 60,000 count at these inputs.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where target moisture loss sits at 2.5% and the headline result is 3 %, this scenario lands almost exactly on the baseline at 3 %.
  • The practical read: the gap between this scenario and the baseline is entirely attributable to target moisture loss, so recovering it is worth quantifying in dollars before considering equipment or staffing changes. It assumes the entire weight difference is water; product fines, dust loss or spillage will inflate the apparent moisture loss and must be ruled out separately.

Results at a glance

  • Moisture loss rate: 3 % (headline result)
  • Moisture loss gap to target: -1.2 points
  • Moisture loss weight: 1,800 count
  • Starting product weight: 60,000 count

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Moisture Loss calculator, set target moisture loss to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.