Way O/T...corn storage

[58 Yeoman]

I'm sure that some of you must be farmers, or at least be able to offer some advice.

I bought a corn stove in January, and started out getting my corn in bags.  The guy at the elevator said to get a corn wagon, so I did.  I got a 90 bu flare wagon that has to be raised to get all the corn out.  My house was built in '36 with a coal room in the basement; all concrete, even the ceiling, except for a small hole knocked in it for electrical work.  One farmer friend of mine said to just load the corn into the room, just make sure that all the holes and cracks are sealed up.  I've got about a dozen bags stored in the basement with mothballs scattered around them.  I've also got mothballs in bags hanging inside the corn wagon, trying to deter mice, which seems to have worked so far.

My question is, will mothballs in the coal bin keep the mice out?  There are also large storage bags available on ebay for storing corn, and I thought I could also use these in the coal bin, which would hold at least three at 30 bu each.  (We use these same type bags at work for shipping plastic resin).  But, if the bags would work, why wouldn't just dumping it into the bin work?  Any thoughts?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=6057032091&ssPageName=ADME:B:TB6:US:2

I plan on using a vacuum system to get the corn upstairs to the stove.

TIA.

[GPster]

I'd get the electric out and plug the hole. Who knows what kind of vapors you'll get from drying corn and you might end up with a house wrecking propane type of explosion. I have seen rats and mice chew the insulation off of wires to make room to get through. Two bare/live wires might lead to a BOOM. GPster

[58 Yeoman]

There aren't any wires going through the hole, just used for access above the room.

[purplepickup]

Phil, I don't know if your basement is damp or not but I would check to see if you are creating an opportunity for mold or mycotoxins to form in your house if you put corn in the coal bin.  Even storage of corn in plastic bags and other enclosed places can be a problem if the corn has a little moisture.  I don't have any experience with this and could be wrong but I'd check into it before I stored loose corn in the basement.  It's probably smart to be aware of safe and unsafe ways to store corn.

I googled and found a couple of sites that talk about mold.  There's probably more.  
http://ianrnews.unl.edu/static/0309290.shtml
http://www.bae.umn.edu/extens/ennotes/enspr01/spr2001.pdf

As far as mice and rats goes, they're fun to shoot at when they run across your living room.  You can usually hit them with a 12 gauge.

[moparrodder]

Phil,  I don't think you would want to store your corn in the basement as moisture of any kind will cause you trouble unless you can air the corn every so often as it draws moisture. It will not have any fumes unless it gets wet or draws moisture and doesn't get aired out then it starts to ferment and it will stink like the sewer but it wont blow up, just will be a mess you don't want in the basement. I was born and raised on a farm and work for a grain elevator for the past 23 years and now take care of the grain storage and operate the elevator and part of the feed mill.  I don't know where exactly you live( in town or on the edge of town) but if you have a wagon for your corn and are able to leave it in your back yard I would build a roof on it so the rain can run off and seal all the cracks with some calking and get a screw in ventalator from tractor supply or most any farm store and plug it in and run the fan for a couple of days a month when the weather is warm and sunny not during a rainy or fogy period and you should have good dry corn to burn when winter rolls around provided your corn is between 13.5 to 15 % moisture. If ya need any more info just give me a shout.    Bill

[Crosley.In.AZ]

As far as mice and rats goes, they're fun to shoot at when they run across your living room.  You can usually hit them with a 12 gauge.

I dont know bout that , sounds a plan for trouble of some type

[phat46]

As far as mice and rats goes, they're fun to shoot at when they run across your living room.  You can usually hit them with a 12 gauge. [/quote]


 ...."usually"......?  

[58 Yeoman]

Thanks for the information and advice guys.  I'd have answered sooner, but I burned my thumb while welding today.  Gotta remember not to pick up the hot piece when not wearing gloves.    

I decided it wasn't a good idea right after reading the sites that George posted.  Never gave mold a thought.  My daughter bought a new house in '97 that had a leaky basement, and mold grew over everything.  What a mess the contractor had cleaning that up.

Thanks again.

[Crosley.In.AZ]

corn produces gas?  dammmit , that adds to  global warming & we thought it was the cows fault.


   :!:

[Mikej]

Sounds like alot of money savings with a corn stove .... I don't think moth balls will keep the mice out but may attract female moths :oops: I used to work at an implement dealership. Some of the farmer would put mothballs in the cabs. They still got mice. But I could hardly stand to work in them. Storing corn inside could lead to a bug infestation as well as rodents. I also understand wet corn doesn't work very well in the corn stoves.

[58 Yeoman]

I am still using my flare wagon to store my corn, which holds about 85 - 90 bushels.  I'm looking for a 175 (or smaller?) bu gravity flow wagon to use, as I wouldn't have to raise it up to get the corn out.  The flare wagon has a hydraulic lift, but all I have to raise it right now is a hand pump.  I'll continue to use the coal bin for storing my Pontiac parts; keeps them out of the way.  Where I get my corn said that the corn is about 12 to 13%, and it burns great.  The stove I have can get tempermental at times, but, for now, I'm thumbing my nose at the power company.