Drying corn or storage options what would you do..

I will be harvesting corn this year. As I raise feeders I was thinking it might be a good thing to keep enough for my feed needs. My local elevator is running 1.50 buy/in - 4.50 sell/out right now. Only feeding a little more than bushel a day right now. To sell my 400 and buy back 400 gonna cost me $1200. 1200 for drying it down a few % seems a bit much (my target is 16-18% off the stalk). Now I can bank it @ a nickle or so a bushel per month plus in/out fees and a drying charge. Near as I can figure, the needed 400 bushel would cost me about $600 to bank it in a year. But thats just a guess with a little ed-a-ma-fa-cation mixed in. I do have access to a 2500bu bin with floor dry but I have to pay for all 2500bu and an electric charge. Or, I can try to keep it in house (most of it anyway) it cost me 0 extra dollars. Other than some electricity.

Here is the delemia.

The bulk feed bin has a cone bottom and no real good way to inject air evenly and/or draw feed at the same time. Talking to a neighbor he mention putting an eight inch tube down the middle and fan on top (air fed in top anyway). Air would be forced down to the bottom and filter it's way back up. OK, sounds good but would it work? N'other option my be to get in there and seal it up (best I can anyhow) and not worry about the extra few %. But, other than, you do not want any air to get to it, I know nothing bout storing corn like silage.

What to do????? ??

The airiation tube should work for your 400 bu.

I frequently store 1200 bu of 19% moisture or less corn in a wooden bin through the winter, it is 50 degrees or colder going in, and of course we have very cold winters all winter, & I want it 75% gone by March. In a metal bin is more risky, & if you get a real mild spell in your "winter" might not be so good.

Ear corn is an option, if you are feeding cttle, would be better feed for them, & you can pick it at 24-28% moisture, store it in a crib that allows airflow.

Do not try to seal up your metal bin, you will _not_ make silage, you will make a mess & rust out your bin. Silage & silos are not that simple, you need 50% moisture, you need totally air-tight, and you need a way to unload the caked-tight results. Regular metal bins do not take the acids formed either.

The airiation tube sounds about the best for your needs, tho I"d look to store it as is in a wooden bin or else pick it on the ear if those are possibilities.

--->Paul

'Course on the other side of the coin, we don't know 'bout those kinds of yields you guys get either. :>)

Allan

I hear it gets kinda windy down there too. Had a 80-90 mph downburst over the farm this year, has been a real long fall trying to harvest 90% of my corn. Goose-neck does not begin to describe it. Even some of the beans laid over.

--->Paul

They must use it in the wintertime to move snow or something? Beats me. :>)

Allan

Tracks are popular options every 4-5 years as well.

--->Paul

It is common practice out in this country to just wait the extra 3 days til it is down to an honest 15.5 before rollin' the combine. In another two days with any luck, it is down to 13 and no worrys at all anyway. Fact is, they are just starting to combine corn out in this area as of yesterday.

There is no rule that says you have to pick it wet just 'cause all the big neighbors do it that way.

But if frequent foul weather is a factor in your area, you can buy those "screw in" type aerators with the little 1/4 horse motor and fan on the upper end.

And another idea, if you have access to a wooden bin, they tend to pull the moisture better than a metal bin.

Allan