ear corn

bg/mo · Aug 8, 2016

how soon can you pick ear corn? or early I guess? does it have to be dry and ears hanging down? thanks

paul · Aug 8, 2016

For what purpose.....

I picked a couple loads at 40%, when they wanted to start cleaning the ditch and wanted a path along the ditch. Feed it fast to the cattle, it will spoil in a week.

In very tough years I've put 33% corn in the crib, when it got late and cold and the corn was in bad shape and would not dry down. It was not ideal and there was spoilage and I got it out by late spring; in my climate we get pretty cold by November 1st so it kept fair, I would not do this in warm weather that would be disaster.

My wood crib can keep 26% corn real well, again I'm in a cold climate so it chills down and air/freeze dries over winter. I'm careful about fines and such and the wood crib is I think 7 feet wide, a wider metal crib (less airflow) or one you let fines fall into you need corn at 22% or so to keep for any amount of time.

If you are leaving the corn in a wagon, no air flow, you better feed it in a week or two, or have it at 16% or less. It just won't keep.

Long answer to a simple question, "it depends" eh?

Paul

bg/mo · Aug 8, 2016

I don"t know what moisture is but thought about picking early and put fan in crib to blow air thru,,,,after dry would be gound for cattle feed.

farmerwithmutt · Aug 8, 2016

Cribs and there location make a huge difference. Narrow wood crib over a hog floor I've seen going in at 30% but I had a steel crib and you were lucky to keep at 18% with ventilation. Do you have a local feed store or grain elevator they might check it for free. There was an old formula about throwing ears in the water tank and then seeing how many float would tell when to crib

coonie minnie · Aug 15, 2016

I was told if the ear will float, you are safe to crib. And that is from someone who cribs a lot of corn.

hd6gtom · Aug 16, 2016

Should be no more than 14 %. For safe keeping.

Aaron SEIA · Aug 22, 2016

Seem to recall dad wanting it under 20%. Don't ever remember having it go bad, but we always picked last and it was cool/cold by the time it went in the crib. Hand shell a few ears and have the moisture checked if you don't own a tester.
AaronSEIA

paul · Aug 22, 2016

Oh, 14% is for storing shell corn. If you wait until 14% ear corn, the picker will she'll a lot of kernels off the ears, you end up with some bare cobs and your corn in piles in the field as kernels..... Ideal is picking at about 17-19% and storing it in a crib when it is cool and has airflow through it.

Often can get away with 24% pretty easily or even up to 30%, but that moisture you need to know what you are doing, have a narrow crib, and really cool fall weather or you can end up with a worthless mess.

Seed corn is actually picked at 36% or so, and run through a crib with forced air drier, they keep the temps under 90degrees but something to see how they work with the seed corn..... The higher moisture keeps the seed from being damaged by the elements or the picker. But of course the corn needs to get dried down so it doesn't mold, and it can do so in a day these moisture seven on the ear.

Paul

ear corn

bg/mo

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paul

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bg/mo

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farmerwithmutt

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coonie minnie

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hd6gtom

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Aaron SEIA

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paul

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