drying corn

just another old geezer · Nov 12, 2014

I was a dairy farmer for 38 years. I sold the cows last spring and am changing over to cash crops and maple syrup. I have recently discovered a nitch market for corn. The local old order Amish now believe that all of their increased birth defects are caused by the food supply. I have a ready market for conventional corn with them as they now want to avoid any GMO or roundup ready crops that they feed to the animals that they feed their family. (They could not care less about what they feed to the animals that they sell). So now they are willing to pay a premium for conventional corn delivered in. The problem is that I can not find someone willing to dry my corn and keep it separate. For next year, I will need to get a small ( 100- 200 BPH)used batch dryer. Anyone willing to give me advice or guidance on dependable models and brands?. Thank you.

Mark W. · Nov 12, 2014

Hate to say but most of their birth defects are coming from VERY shallow gene pools.

just another old geezer · Nov 12, 2014

If they want to feed only conventional corn to their consumable animals, who am I to tell them they are wrong?

GeneMO · Nov 12, 2014

Is letting it dry in the field out of the question? We use to only harvest if the corn was below 18%. Then we just ran air through it. We had a 6,000 bu bin with a perforated drying floor, but didn't have a burner on it, just a 5hp axial flow fan.

That always worked well with humidity below 55%.

On smaller bins, 1,000 bu or so, I have used the little screw in. tube type to just run a little air through.

If you really want to make them happy, pick it in the ear.

Ground ear corn is the best cattle feed there is.

good luck, Gene

Oh, ps. The Amish around here moved every 10-15 years. I think they are trying to keep down the inbreeding.

Gene

JMS/.MN · Nov 12, 2014

A lot of dryer mfgrs quit the market over the years. I have a Farm Fans, model AB8B....company still in existence, excellent unit. Will take out 10 points at rate of about 2000 bu per day. Holds about 100 bu each batch. It is an automatic batch dryer- loads, dries, unloads, refills by itself til the wet bin is empty, then shuts off. They also made larger units. Mine is a "79 model, had it since about "88. Has the older style radio tube control system, newer ones are solid state, more dependable, although I don"t think I"ve had to replace any tubes over the years. I paid $2800 for mine, lately I"ve seen them for much less...just too small for many. I have a 1600 bu wet bin ahead of mine, usually shuts off about 2-3 in the morning.

JMS/.MN · Nov 12, 2014

My folks moved 9 times between 1931-1943. Does that mean I"m not related to my 4 siblings? LOL!

RGMartin · Nov 12, 2014

(quoted from post at 12:31:12 11/12/14) I have a Farm Fans, model AB8B....company still in existence, excellent unit.

I am running the same unit. Bought this year for 3K with all new motors, like 7000 hours. Knock on wood, it is running like a Swiss watch. It is taking 5 points off 120bu every hour long cycle.

I just back the truck up to it for now, and tend it. Need a wet bin before next year.

INCase · Nov 12, 2014

what about a crib or 2 and put up ear corn?

non GMO is gaining some popularity here too. Some guys are doing some of both.

Dave H (MI) · Nov 12, 2014

Mark, that was the first thing that came into my mind too.

Mike Aylward · Nov 12, 2014

As was once said to me, "if someone wants to spend money that badly it's morally wrong to deny them the privilege"...

Mike

just another old geezer · Nov 12, 2014

They want it shelled, delivered and dumped on the second story barn floor, up a steep barn hill, wooden floor you can't drive a truck on, and with a shed at the bottom of the Barn hill. One wants it dumped 50 bu at a time onto his wagon, so he can pull the wagon with his horses, into the barn to shovel it off. 50 bu at a time for 1500 bu.

David G · Nov 12, 2014

You better get a REAL premium for all that work.

ss55 · Nov 12, 2014

"50 bu at a time for 1500 bu."

I agree with working out one price for the grain FOB (Free On Board) at your facility and either a separate delivery charge or an hourly charge for the your extra work and time.

paul · Nov 12, 2014

I shoulda talked to you more, those were sometimes are still common at farm auctions here, but don't know what to look for. Seems everyone says generally good things about them.

Model 12 also pretty common.

What sort of electric service does it need?

Paul

RGMartin · Nov 12, 2014

The main motor is 60ish amps, plus whatever you have for a motor to feed it when it tops off. The book says 90 some amps with a 5hp feed auger when it tops off. I have mine on a 125 Amp branch panel, but only have a 2hp motor feeding it. You know when the main motor kicks on.

David G · Nov 12, 2014

You have to sell quite a bit of corn to pay for a dryer. I would pick it and store on the ear, then shell it as needed. You would save the capital equipment and gas costs.

This would also be easier to do small batches.

David G · Nov 12, 2014

We have a superb, works real well and is easy to work on.

RodinNS · Nov 12, 2014

You'll be the one catching the blame when another batch of buck toothed, cross eyed kids arrive tho...
I think I'd steer clear of it.
If not... I think I'd try and field dry the corn and then use an aeration tank to finish it off as long as you can get it down to 20% or so in the field..

Rod

caseman46 · Nov 12, 2014

. Dear Geezer,

You are on the threshold of a huge ground-floor enterprise! Because of FOOD ACTIVISTS and their near-hysterical Internet chatter,the GMO issue is about to become a major political issue. You have probably seen efforts from Monsanto and others and their respective challenges to gain acceptance and government approval. Therefore the GMO issue will only increase the demand for NON-GMO grains. The interest of your Amish neighbor is the tip of iceberg of this emerging opportunity. Should you step up to the task, huge obstacles will develop that require serious planning and probably expensive implementation, but the rewards could be great. Here are some considerations.
1. Will your customers only purchase commercial yellow corn for animal use or also want food-grade varieties (white, popcorn or sweet corn) for human consumption?
2. Will your customers expect your crops to be ORGANIC?
3. Do you envision outing together a production,storage,and distribution plan with 100% crop isolation?
4. What premium price do you expect, and will it pay for all the effort and investment?

You may find the dryer issue to be minor. Good Luck! If I were your neighbor, I would be eager to help and become involved. Cm46

flying belgian · Nov 12, 2014

I've got a 135 bushel Superb automatic batch. I have run 40,000 bushels a year through it for the last 12 years and have not spent one nickel on it. I bought it used so I don't know how many total bushels have run through it. It has a hour meter on it but I never paid attention how many hours it had when I got it and don't know how many are on it today.

JMS/.MN · Nov 12, 2014

AB12B is 150 bu. My AB8B is 4 panel sections long, 12B would be 6. IIRC later ones are labeled 250? or some such. Mine runs a 7 1/2 hp single phase fan motor, 100 amp system. The 6 inch input auger has a 5? hp motor, unload system runs 7 1/2 hp motor on 60 foot 8 inch auger, plus a 1 1/2 unload motor on the dryer. Fan is not running on load or unload, so 100 amp is sufficient for system. First wet bin was 800 bu feed tank, now I use a 1600 bu. JLCO was also a good dryer, made in Dassel, MN, but out of business. Really no big deal, so many parts are generic. SuperB mentioned by others is also good. Many users have 1000 bu Lowry wet bins. Neighbor gave away 2- 2000 bu Lowry"s to the scrap man a couple years ago. If you"re in the area, stop by for a look at it.

RGMartin · Nov 13, 2014

(quoted from post at 01:02:41 11/13/14) Mine runs a 7 1/2 hp single phase fan motor, 100 amp system.

Mine is marked as a 10-13hp motor, single phase... has tagged 10hp Baldor on it.

Is a 7.5 enough on your unload? How big is the pulley on your dryers unload auger? How fast are you turning your 60'? I am running a PTO auger, and need to go electric before next year. My auger is an 8x52.

Kent Petersen · Nov 13, 2014

Belgian i think you got one to many zeros in there. i have a 233 bu super bee and you can't dry that much corn in one year with that size dryer it apprx; one hour per batch 135 x24 per day=3240 per day= 123 days in 4 years your dryer would be worn out=11808 hrs

flying belgian · Nov 13, 2014

Not to be nit picky but my calculations show I must be putting about 300 hrs/ yr on my dryer. All I know is it is not worn out.

drying corn

Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Similar threads