He Sells Ear Corn Direct To Consumers

He Sells Ear Corn Direct To Consumers SPECIALTY/SERVICES Specialty/Services 25-2-27 Richard Layden of Hoopeston, Ill., grows and sells ear corn for wild animals. But it isn't just your every day ear corn. The corn we plant has a high oil content and picks clean and easy with minimal damage to the kernels," says Layden. "Squirrels prefer a high oil corn." Layden advertises the corn, which he sells direct to customers, in a suburban Chicago newspaper. The ad reads "Give a squirrel a treat. Buy direct from the farmer and have ear corn delivered directly to your door." To harvest the corn Layden uses a New Idea 211 2-row pull-type picker. He runs the picker's pto at a slow 490 rpm's in order to minimize damage to kernels. We use a conveyor belt to unload corn from the wagon," says Layden. "We hand pick the best ears off the belt and place them in wax-coated boxes with 30 lbs. of ears per box. A box of ear corn sells for $35. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Richard and Cathy Layden, 11443 E. 4200 North Road, Hoopeston, Ill. 60942 (ph 217 283-6864).

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