A grain handling system includes a logic device connected to a piece of equipment. A sensor subsystem includes an optical sensor receiving optical inputs from grain particles and a particle sensor, which can comprise a microphone or an accelerometer. The equipment includes a paddle elevator comprising multiple paddles connected to a chain. The sensor subsystem receives grain flow data from intermittent grain throws by the paddle elevator and generates corresponding data sets with grain flow arrival timing and grain particle characteristics. A grain handling method includes the steps of sensing intermittent grain throws and grain quality characteristics for controlling an operating parameter of a grain-handling piece of equipment.
