AGI NECO occupies a specific, valuable corner of the grain drying market: mixed-flow technology. Where most prairie farmers know tower dryers (cross-flow) and continuous multi-flow machines, NECO’s mixed-flow design takes a different path to the same goal โ and for canola, wheat, and high-value crops where test weight and quality matter, it’s a path worth understanding. Built by AGI (Ag Growth International), the same global manufacturer behind a broad catalog of grain handling and storage equipment, NECO dryers have been engineered and refined for over fifty years, with more than 2,000 units sold.
This guide explains what makes a mixed-flow dryer different, walks through the full NECO D-Series lineup from the 16-foot farm machines to the 32-foot commercial units, and gives Canadian buyers the specs and context to decide whether a NECO fits their operation. The full model table below is built directly from AGI NECO’s official specifications, so whether you’re sizing a farm dryer or comparing against a GSI tower or a used Vertec, you’ll find verified capacity, burner, and dimension data here. No sales pitch โ just how mixed-flow works, what each model holds, and where NECO earns its place.
What Mixed-Flow Drying Actually Is
The drying method is the whole story with NECO, so it’s worth getting right. In a mixed-flow dryer, the grain column is filled with rows of alternating air ducts โ some supplying hot air, some exhausting it โ arranged so that as grain flows down by gravity, each kernel passes repeatedly in and out of the hottest air zones. Rather than air pushing straight across or up through a static column, the grain is continuously mixed through hot and cooler zones on its way down.
This differs from the two dryer types most prairie farmers already know. A cross-flow tower dryer (like a GSI tower) pushes heated air horizontally through a grain column held between two screens โ efficient and high-capacity, but kernels nearer the hot air dry faster than those farther away, creating a moisture gradient across the column. A continuous multi-flow dryer (like a Vertec) flows grain down past alternating plenums, screenless, with good results but less of the repeated remixing that defines true mixed-flow.
NECO’s mixed-flow approach produces three practical advantages. First, kernel-to-kernel consistency: because every kernel cycles through the hot zones repeatedly, moisture comes out far more uniform across the batch. Second, gentler drying: the repeated, even exposure avoids the stress cracking, discoloration, and chalking that aggressive single-pass drying can cause โ which preserves test weight and grade. Third, like Vertec, NECO dryers are screenless, so there are no perforated screens to plug with fines or canola, airflow stays consistent all season, and AGI rates the design up to 30% more fuel efficient than conventional screen dryers. NECO also runs notably quiet โ its forward-curved centrifugal blowers operate around 60โ70 decibels, roughly half the noise of axial-fan dryers.
The Full NECO D-Series Lineup & Specifications
NECO dryers use a straightforward model code: the D prefix, the section length (16, 24, or 32 feet), followed by a capacity code. More tiers and longer sections mean more capacity. The lineup splits into three families โ the 16-foot dryers suited to farm operations, the 24-foot dryers spanning large-farm to commercial, and the 32-foot dryers built for commercial and elevator-scale drying.
The table below lists all 21 D-Series models with verified figures from AGI NECO’s official specifications. Capacity is shown for corn (the standard reference crop, at 5 points of moisture removal, all-heat 210ยฐF) and wheat (5 points, all-heat) to give a practical sense of throughput. Holding capacity, burner output, and total length round out the picture.
NECO 16-Foot Dryers (Farm)
| Model | Tiers | Holding (bu) | Corn bu/h (5 pt) | Wheat bu/h (5 pt) | Avg Burner (MMBTU/h) | Length (ft) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D1670 | 5 | 674 | 631 | 621 | 4.0 | 24 |
| D1680 | 6 | 770 | 740 | 714 | 4.5 | 24 |
| D1690 | 7 | 866 | 860 | 833 | 5.25 | 24 |
| D16106 | 8 | 962 | 981 | 1,003 | 6.0 | 27 |
| D16120 | 10 | 1,155 | 1,250 | 1,240 | 7.75 | 27 |
| D16140 | 12 | 1,347 | 1,468 | 1,426 | 9.25 | 27 |
| D16160 | 14 | 1,539 | 1,732 | 1,740 | 11.0 | 27 |
NECO 24-Foot Dryers (Large Farm / Commercial)
| Model | Tiers | Holding (bu) | Corn bu/h (5 pt) | Wheat bu/h (5 pt) | Avg Burner (MMBTU/h) | Length (ft) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D24108 | 6 | 1,155 | 1,109 | 1,084 | 7.0 | 35 |
| D24150 | 8 | 1,443 | 1,474 | 1,427 | 9.25 | 35 |
| D24180 | 10 | 1,732 | 1,687 | 1,667 | 10.5 | 35 |
| D24210 | 12 | 2,020 | 2,201 | 2,139 | 13.75 | 35 |
| D24240 | 14 | 2,309 | 2,428 | 2,380 | 15.0 | 35 |
| D24260 | 16 | 2,597 | 2,928 | 2,851 | 18.5 | 35 |
| D24330 | 20 | 3,174 | 3,357 | 3,382 | 20.75 | 35 |
| D24380 | 24 | 3,750 | 4,098 | 4,045 | 25.25 | 35 |
NECO 32-Foot Dryers (Commercial / Elevator)
| Model | Tiers | Holding (bu) | Corn bu/h (5 pt) | Wheat bu/h (5 pt) | Avg Burner (MMBTU/h) | Length (ft) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D32260 | 12 | 2,693 | 2,647 | 2,542 | 18.0 | 43 |
| D32340 | 16 | 3,463 | 3,521 | 3,389 | 24.0 | 43 |
| D32440 | 20 | 4,232 | 4,394 | 4,235 | 30.25 | 43 |
| D32500 | 24 | 5,001 | 5,268 | 5,062 | 36.25 | 43 |
How to read these numbers: corn at 5 points is the industry-standard reference, but your real throughput depends on crop, starting moisture, ambient conditions, and whether you run all-heat or heat-and-cool. NECO’s full specifications also list canola and rice capacities and dry-and-cool modes; canola throughput is lower than cereals, as with any dryer. AGI is explicit that these are best-estimate capacities from field results and computer analysis, and that figures vary with temperature, humidity, grain maturity, test weight, and drying-versus-cooling zone setup. Use the table to size and compare; confirm exact configuration with an AGI NECO dealer.
For most Canadian farm operations, the 16-foot family and the smaller 24-foot models (D24108โD24180) cover the practical range; the larger 24-foot and all 32-foot dryers move into commercial and elevator territory.
Why Mixed-Flow Matters for Canola and Test Weight
For prairie farmers, two NECO strengths line up directly with what matters on the western Canadian crop mix.
Canola. Canola is small-seeded, high-value, and easily damaged by aggressive heat or screen plugging. NECO’s screenless mixed-flow design handles canola well โ there’s nothing for the fine seed to blind, airflow stays consistent, and the gentle, repeated exposure through hot zones dries it evenly without the heat stress that degrades oil quality. AGI lists canola capacity for every D-Series model, and the design is explicitly suited to crops from corn to canola. For an SK/AB/MB operation with significant canola acres, that’s a meaningful fit.
Test weight and grade. Because mixed-flow remixes grain through the hot zones rather than blasting a static column, it preserves test weight and avoids the stress cracking and discoloration that pull down grade. For farms marketing into quality-sensitive channels โ milling wheat, malt barley, food-grade crops โ protecting grade through gentle drying can be worth more than raw throughput. The long retention time and slow, even drying are central to NECO’s quality argument, and it’s a genuine point of difference from faster, more aggressive dryer types.
The trade-off is that mixed-flow dryers, with their longer retention and gentler approach, are engineered around quality and efficiency rather than the absolute highest per-hour speed. For a farm whose priority is grade preservation and fuel economy, that’s exactly the right trade; for one chasing maximum bushels per hour above all, a high-capacity tower may suit better.
NECO Controls: Commander, SureTrack & Dryer Master
Modern NECO dryers are built around real automation โ a clear advantage over legacy machines and a major part of the value at new-equipment prices.
- Commander Control โ AGI NECO’s own PLC-based control system with a touchscreen interface, drying-progress tracking and graphing, alarm and troubleshooting assistance, self-diagnostics, and alarm history. It’s designed to make a sophisticated dryer approachable.
- AGI SureTrack Dryer Manager โ remote monitoring of moisture and temperature from any device (tablet, phone, laptop) over cellular or internet, with alarms and callouts by text or email. For operators who can’t stand at the dryer all night during harvest, remote management is a genuine quality-of-life and risk-reduction feature.
- Dryer Master moisture control โ NECO offers machines with Dryer Master embedded in the software, using dual moisture sensors to automatically hold a target output moisture by adjusting unload speed.
NECO also fits stainless steel fuel trains (resisting corrosion that degrades fuel-system performance over time) and offers blower and unload VFDs for fine airflow and discharge control, plus single-phase blower VFD options. For a farm moving from a manual legacy dryer to a NECO, the controls package is often as transformative as the drying technology itself.
NECO vs GSI Tower vs Vertec: Choosing a Dryer Type
Aglist covers all three dryer types, and they suit different priorities. Here’s the honest framing.
| Factor | AGI NECO (mixed-flow) | GSI Tower (cross-flow) | Vertec (continuous multi-flow) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drying method | Mixed-flow, grain remixed through hot zones | Cross-flow through screened column | Multi-flow down past plenums |
| Screens | Screenless | Screened | Screenless |
| Strength | Test weight, grade, canola, fuel economy | High capacity, established tower standard | Value (used), simplicity |
| Controls | Commander touchscreen, SureTrack remote | Modern touchscreen automation | Mechanical (retrofit available) |
| Market | New (premium) | New + used | Used only |
| Best for | Quality-sensitive, canola-heavy, efficiency | High-throughput operations | Value buyers, proven simplicity |
Choose NECO if grade preservation, canola performance, fuel efficiency, and modern remote controls are your priorities, and you’re buying new. Choose a GSI tower if maximum per-hour capacity in a proven tower format leads your list. Choose a used Vertec if value and mechanical simplicity matter most and you’re shopping the used market. There’s no single best dryer โ there’s the best dryer for your crop mix, volume, and budget. For the full landscape, see the grain dryer category and the Best Grain Dryers in Canada guide.
Which NECO Fits Your Operation
Mid-size prairie farm, canola in the rotation โ a 16-foot NECO (D1670 through D16120). The screenless mixed-flow design suits canola, and farm-scale capacity matches typical daily intake. The D1670 (674 bu holding, ~631 bu/h corn) is the entry point; the D16120 (1,155 bu, ~1,250 bu/h corn) covers a larger farm.
Large farm with high daily volume โ the smaller-to-mid 24-foot dryers (D24108โD24210). These step capacity up substantially while staying within reach of a serious farm operation, with multiple burners for flexible heat-and-cool drying.
Quality-focused operation marketing milling wheat, malt barley, or food-grade crops โ any NECO, on the test-weight and grade-preservation argument. The gentle mixed-flow drying is the reason to choose this type over a more aggressive dryer.
Commercial or elevator drying โ the large 24-foot (D24240โD24380) and 32-foot dryers (D32260โD32500), with capacities to 5,000+ bushels holding and burner outputs past 36 MMBTU/h. These are infrastructure-scale machines requiring three-phase power and commercial installation.
Operator who can’t babysit the dryer overnight โ any NECO with SureTrack remote monitoring. The ability to watch moisture and receive alarms by phone is a real harvest-season advantage.
For sizing any dryer against your real daily wet-bushel intake, the Grain Dryer Sizing Calculator helps match capacity to throughput โ the single most important number in choosing a dryer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a mixed-flow grain dryer?
A mixed-flow dryer fills the grain column with alternating hot-air and exhaust ducts, so that as grain flows down by gravity, each kernel passes repeatedly in and out of the hottest air zones. This repeated remixing produces very uniform kernel-to-kernel moisture and gentle drying that preserves test weight, unlike a cross-flow tower where kernels nearer the hot air dry faster than those farther away.
Are NECO dryers good for canola?
Yes. NECO’s screenless mixed-flow design suits canola well โ the fine seed has nothing to plug, airflow stays consistent, and the gentle repeated drying avoids the heat stress that degrades canola. AGI lists canola capacity for every D-Series model, and the design is explicitly suited to crops from corn to canola, making it a strong fit for prairie operations with canola acres.
Who makes NECO grain dryers?
NECO is a brand of AGI (Ag Growth International), a global agricultural equipment manufacturer with facilities in Canada, the United States, the UK, Brazil, India, and Italy. AGI NECO has specialized in grain drying for over fifty years and has sold more than 2,000 NECO dryers.
How much grain can a NECO dryer handle?
It ranges widely by model. The smallest farm model, the D1670, dries about 631 bu/h of corn at 5 points of moisture removal; the largest commercial unit, the D32500, exceeds 5,000 bu/h. Wheat capacities are similar to corn at 5 points, while canola runs lower. Actual throughput depends on crop, starting moisture, and conditions โ see the full lineup table above and confirm with a dealer.
Are NECO dryers screenless?
Yes. Like Vertec, NECO mixed-flow dryers have no screens to clean, clog, or change, so airflow is maintained throughout the drying season. AGI rates the screenless design up to 30% more fuel efficient than conventional screen dryers, and it’s part of why these machines handle canola and other fine crops without plugging.
How does a NECO compare to a GSI tower dryer?
They use different methods. A GSI tower is a cross-flow dryer built for high per-hour capacity in an established tower format. A NECO is a mixed-flow dryer built around grade preservation, canola performance, and fuel efficiency, remixing grain through hot zones for uniform, gentle drying. Choose NECO for quality and efficiency, a GSI tower for maximum throughput โ see our GSI dryer pages for comparison.
What controls do NECO dryers use?
Modern NECO dryers use the Commander touchscreen control system (PLC-based, with drying graphs, alarms, and self-diagnostics), the AGI SureTrack Dryer Manager for remote monitoring by phone or computer, and optional Dryer Master automatic moisture control with dual sensors. Stainless steel fuel trains and blower/unload VFDs round out the package.
Note: We try our best to keep specs and information accurate, but some details can be missing or different depending on the source, model year, or configuration. Capacity figures come from AGI NECO’s published specifications and represent best-estimate wet-bushel capacities that vary with crop, moisture, temperature, humidity, and drying setup. Before you buy, service, or repair equipment, double-check key specs with AGI NECO documentation, the owner’s manual, or your Canadian dealer.
About reviews: Reviews on Aglist are written by real users. We moderate them for spam and abuse, but opinions and claims are still personal โ so use them as guidance, not as a guarantee.
