After my corn crib was full I had two wagons of corn left. I put up the snow fence cribs on a hay wagon so I can move them plus they get air from the bottom. My question is, should I cover them or leave them alone. Last year I covered them and some water leaked thru the tarp and the corn molded where it got wet. Would it be better if it was left uncovered. They will probably be there until spring or early summer. I am in Michigan if it makes a difference.
Grandpa, Pop, and my uncle always left snow fence cribs uncovered. We are in SW Iowa, and get plenty of rain and snow (except for this year, of course). We put boards, plywood, or old tin roofing on the ground under the ear corn. My guess is that air moves better if it is uncovered, drying precipitation before it could mold. We always ground out the snow fence cribs before the squirrel cages and long cribs, both of which had structural roofs.
Thanks for the reply. I did leave it uncovered. I have a hammermill in the lean-to on the back of the barn. That is where I built the actual crib which of coase was not big enough. I am thinking that by spring i can put the corn from the snow fence into the crib.
Why not just grind the corn in the snow fence crib first? Saves handling it again and by moving it around a bit every time you grind some you will enhance the drying of the remaining corn.
The corn in the snow fence is on a wagon that won't fit in the barn. The hammer mill is bolted to the barn floor and I can't move it near the wagon. If I had a grinder mixer I would do that.
OK, I see. Didn't think anyone had a stationary hammermill anymore these days! What kind of hammermill do you have? Do you drive it with a PTO shaft or a flat belt? If you have some pics of your setup, I don't think I would be the only one on this forum who would enjoy seeing them. On this forum, the "processing" of ear corn is just as interesting as picking it!
The old hammermill is a Fords. It belonged to my wifes grandfather. It runs off a flat belt. It will be a couple weeks before I grind again, but I will get some pictures and try to post them. Just remember I am technologically challenged.
I have a wetmore hammermill. Dad had a Sears/Wards? A hammer went part way up the pipe, and he quit useing it. Junked it later. I have the screens to it.
