Corn harvest 101

[Farmer Dave]

For those in the chatroom the last couple nights and wondered what the hell I was taking about when I said I was 'drying corn', here's a run down.

First of all I'm talking about whats called #2 yellow corn. 95% of it around here is fed to livestock or refined into ethanol.

Step one is to harvest the corn using a combine. It removes the kernals from the cob so you are handling the least amount of product possible. The combine dumps the corn on the move into a wagon. Keep in the combine moving at all time is obviously most effecient.
<a href="http://s490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/tractorgreendog/?action=view&current=DSCN1210.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/tractorgreendog/DSCN1210.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

The wagon dumps into a waiting truck for transport the the drying and storage area.
<a href="http://s490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/tractorgreendog/?action=view&current=DSCN1212.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/tractorgreendog/DSCN1212.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

The corn is coming out of the field right now at about 20% moisture. It has to be 15% for storage an delivery so that's where the drying comes in. The dryer is the red and silver thing with the steam coming out. It's fire by natural gas and the corn flows through it continuosly from top to bottom. The heat is adjusted to get a proper moisture coming out the bottom. Corn then goes into one of the silver storage bins for delivery to market at a later date.
<a href="http://s490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/tractorgreendog/?action=view&current=DSCN1209.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/tractorgreendog/DSCN1209.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Now if you made it through this bore fest you have made it through corn harvest 101. Lucky you.

[Stankfoot]

95% of it around here is fed to livestock or refined into ethanol.

that much?

[Kublakhan61]

The combine - that's the machine riding alongside/connected to the tractor in pic 1? How does that remove the kernels from the cob? It looks like it mows down the the corn at the stalk ... is that right? Then - if it cuts the corn at the stalk, how does it remove the ears from the stalk, separate it the ear from its leaves and silk AND then strip the kernels away??

[Farmer Dave]

Actually a couple rollers pull the stalk down through stripper plates to remove just the ear. The ear goes through a rotating cylinder to knock the kernals from the cob. It then goes over some grates to sperate the two.

The machine is called a combine because it 'combines' the the jobs of harvesting and threshing.

Oh, and they aren't actually connected. Just moving together as the combine off loads the grain.

[JohnCharles]

Thank God!!

I never thought I would see this thread.

[Aggie]

I feel like I just watched a shortened Modern Marvels. Interesting. Thanks for sharing!

[FrogSlayer]

thanks for the synopsis Farmer Dave. This is a glimpse into farming that so few would ever see otherwise. Farming is hard and noble work and I commend you for that. I worked on my uncles farm for several years and loved and hated it simultaneously.
How has the introduction of ethanol into gasoline affected your buisness?

Hope the weather cooperates with your harvest.

[biggirl]

thanks for the synopsis Farmer Dave. This is a glimpse into farming that so few would ever see otherwise. Farming is hard and noble work and I commend you for that. I worked on my uncles farm for several years and loved and hated it simultaneously.
How has the introduction of ethanol into gasoline affected your buisness?

Hope the weather cooperates with your harvest.

this is our daily view in the Midwest. A lot of people make fun of the midwest for how "boring" it must be to live amongst the cornfields. It is actually a beautiful landscape. The beauty comes from spring when the ground is a deep black to light green in the early summer when the crops start emerging to a dark green to a beautiful golden color in the fall before the crops get harvested.

I say we are the lucky ones, right Dave? Our scenery is constantly changing and it is always gorgeous.

[Ponyboy]

More importantly..do you use these same machines when harvested pot???

[Farmer Dave]

How has the introduction of ethanol into gasoline affected your buisness?

Hope the weather cooperates with your harvest.
Ethanol has definiately increased demand for our crop and raised prices over the past few years. It has aslo been blamed for increased food price as feed has become more expensive for livestock. At the same time livestock producers are struggling with depressed meat prices, so thats's a tough one.

And the weather has sucked ass for all year. I'm probably three weeks behind on harvest and there isn't a damn thing I can do about it. Well, except drink.
More importantly..do you use these same machines when harvested pot???

Still done by hand.:wink:

[RhinoinMN]

Ethanol has definiately increased demand for our crop and raised prices over the past few years. It has aslo been blamed for increased food price as feed has become more expensive for livestock. At the same time livestock producers are struggling with depressed meat prices, so thats's a tough one.

And the weather has sucked ass for all year. I'm probably three weeks behind on harvest and there isn't a damn thing I can do about it. Well, except drink.


Still done by hand.:wink:

Ethanol has put a hurt on using corn for alternative heating too.

[FrogSlayer]

I noticed fert costs shoot up with gas prices. escpecially last year. I bet you go through tons of fertilizer.

[biggestmexi]

I bet you go through tons of fertilizer.

i could only assume a "shit" ton.

[Farmer Dave]

I noticed fert costs shoot up with gas prices. escpecially last year. I bet you go through tons of fertilizer.

i could only assume a "shit" ton.

I also raise hogs so I do have a shit ton from them.

Some fertilizers are made from natural gas, so ya, increased energy cost raised the price. There is also a lot of transportation cost involved in it.

[Farmer Dave]

Maybe I could start a thread about handling liquid hog shit when I get to that job.

[boosterp]

Cool thread Dave! :thumbup:

[FrogSlayer]

Maybe I could start a thread about handling liquid hog shit when I get to that job.

AWESOME cant wait

[Jughead]

Had to power wash a liquid spreader once..I know you don't believe me but true ....... 1975 the end opened up... They were using it to draw from fairing (sp) houses also...There was a valve on the top that had you know stuff hanging from it......I ate my lunch that day on the front porch........Signed farmer Juggy:smile:

[ANC]

For those in the chatroom the last couple nights and wondered what the hell I was taking about when I said I was 'drying corn', here's a run down.

I figured you just meant you were masterbating.

[Stankfoot]

http://image.timepassagesnostalgia.com/watermarked/imagesb9/b923cornyphone.jpg

[GregoryJoseph]

Get a real job, hippie!

[Chigworthy]

How do you farmer types feel about the negative publicity that corn-fed beef has garnered lately? The prevailing biological opinion is that feeding grain to an animal that is designed to eat predominantly cellulose (grass and such) results in increased illness in the stock, which in turn results in an increased usage of antibiotics in the sick animals, which supposedly results in low-quality meat and a significant "bleed-off" of antibiotics into the environment.

I know that their are a shit-ton of farmers out there who rely on farming corn to survive, but it seems like the overuse of the product may be destructive. Opinions?

[Farmer Dave]

How do you farmer types feel about the negative publicity that corn-fed beef has garnered lately? The prevailing biological opinion is that feeding grain to an animal that is designed to eat predominantly cellulose (grass and such) results in increased illness in the stock, which in turn results in an increased usage of antibiotics in the sick animals, which supposedly results in low-quality meat and a significant "bleed-off" of antibiotics into the environment.

I know that their are a shit-ton of farmers out there who rely on farming corn to survive, but it seems like the overuse of the product may be destructive. Opinions?

First off, I'm not a farmer type. I am a farmer.

Secondly, eat what you want. The market will decide.

Thirdly, opinions are like assholes.

[weekapaugjz]

combines rule.

and the fact that it is a john deere makes it that much better.

[JohnGacysCrawlSpace]

I tried to grow corn in my garden this summer and i was going quite well until it was all eaten and trampled by the deer, about a week from harvest.

[topless_mike]

i thought the thread title was "cum harvest 101" at quick glance.

[razorboy]

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[~Katja~]

I can't stand for such corn cruelty... I prefer my corn to live a cage free life

now I feel corny

[Chigworthy]

First off, I'm not a farmer type. I am a farmer.

Secondly, eat what you want. The market will decide.

Thirdly, opinions are like assholes.

Sorry for asking.

[GregoryJoseph]

I hope you don't push that High Fructose Corn Syrup crap...

[Stankfoot]

http://static.guim.co.uk/Guardian/film/gallery/2008/dec/03/horror/CHI013AL-4409.jpg

[Farmer Dave]

I hope you don't push that High Fructose Corn Syrup crap...

I do, I recommend using it on your corn bread and corn flakes. You can't get to much HFCS.

[topless_mike]

http://blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/Cornholio.gif