Huge Energy-Saving Canadian Corn Crib

Huge Energy-Saving Canadian Corn Crib CROP STORAGE Corn Cribs 8-6-28 A Canadian farmer has built a king-size corn crib that eliminates the problems of handling and size that normally limit the use of cribs. Mike Kloepfer, who farms with his father near New Durham, Ontario, built his 20,000 bu. corn crib with the help of the Ontario Ministry of Energy to avoid the cost of conventional bin dryers to dry shelled corn. The corn crib is 40 by 100 ft. with a concrete base and wire sides. If their situation changes, the Kloepfers say they could quickly convert the building to a storage shed, unlike grain bins. The building is loaded with corn by elevators through gaps under the roof along the sidewalls. The building is unloaded by front-end loader. Two triangular air tunnels run down either side of the building. The tunnels are made from individual triangular-shaped metal and wood sections that are lined up end to end on the floor of the building. The slatted, free-standing triangular sections create air tunnels beneath the corn that carry air into the corn for aeration. Large fans blow air in from either end and are hooked up to automatic humidity monitors that turn the fans off when the corn gets down to a pre-set level. Air flow through the corn is critical, according to Kloepfers, and is affected by the shape of the pile of ears. The piles should be rounded with the highest points directly over the tunnels. The edges of the piles should drop toward the outside so the outer edges of the stored corn are always about the same distance from the airtunnels. Effort should also be made to avoid piles of loose keels and fines which will block airflow. The Kloepfers plan to add plywood skirting around the sides of the building just under the roof to keep snow from blowing in on the pile and melting. Energy specialist Mike Columbus of the Ontario Agricultural Energy Centre in Delhi worked with the Kloepfers on the project. "It's convenient, low cost, versatile, and provides quality corn without the handling problems and limited size that's normally associated with corn cribs." For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Mike Columbus, Energy Centre, P.O. Box 186, Research Station, Delhi, Ontario Canada N4B 2W9 (ph 519 582-3301).

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