The Lost Art of Cleaning Out a Corn Crib

[@stevecunningham2759]

In the 50s and 60s a government farm program allowed corn in cribs to be "sealed" (off the market) for a 3 year period. This was arguably done to stabilize the price of corn and other commodities. The sealed corn was then used as a low interest low interest government loan that was repaid when the corn was marketed (hopefully for a higher price!) Three years of storage usually meant incredible numbers of rodents (mice, rats, racoons, possums) and the requirement to tie baler twine around your pant legs. farm dogs went crazy when the last pile in the crib was pulled into the sheller. I loved climbing the crib to loosen the "cliff" of corn into the drag. Thanks for the memory.

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

3 years seems to be a bit extreme! What did farmers do with the new crop in the interim? They took it straight to town and pay drying? Thank you for sharing such a fascinating memory!! I am super curious about this program. I just can't see how it was a benefit.

[@surplushunter]

Oh the memories indeed!!! My Dad's cousin did custom corn shelling - always had a newer Minneapolis-Moline sheller, and always ran it with a John Deere Tractor to!!!!! Get the corn to fall just right and you could sit and rest for 15 minutes and it would just keep falling and falling,,,, corn shelling day was the highlight of the summer!!!!! Thanks!!

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

That would be awesome to sit for 15 minutes! We only ever get a few minutes of falling. I never realized there was a right and wrong way to fill them.... Thank you for sharing!!

[@surplushunter]

@@Chickens-ol3hg Yes, my Dad learned the hard way early on - you start filling at the far end, that way the ears naturally point in the right direction, and will flow very easily!

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

That is a painful lesson, had to be a bugger cleaning that out!

[@jimmybrock6593]

Largest corncrib I ever seen! In Georgia much smaller for 40 acres and a mule. Maybe 16 ft by 16ft or 20 by 20. Mind blowing for me.hehe 😮😊

[@johndeereal1]

My Absolute Favorite job on the Farm. I would look for farmers who where emptying Corn Cribs and volunteer for the inside job. LOVE THIS ! Thanks.❤

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

Really?! Do you still see many people emptying cribs? We like to attend the local Thresherman event and watch everything, from horse drawn planters to 2 row combines. The Steam Engines are my favorite! But, you can volunteer there!

[@rodneyclark5124]

Nice video. My father ran a corn sheller for 22 yrs. Seen all types of corn cribs to shell from. This style of crib was the easiest. Not much shoveling and the corn would cascade down for ever. The sheller thier using is a Cook sheller, dad had minneapolis-moline 1210. It wasnt as fast as a cook but it was steady running and very reliable. The only thing we did different than what this guys are doing when we got a crib empty it was swept out where there was not a grain laying around.

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

I love hearing about all the people that used to shell. Did you do round cribs as well? We have 2 round cribs as well, but thankfully the concrete is going bad and we can't fill them. (It breaks my husband's heart, but I have heard how big of a pain they are) Do you still have the sheller?

[@kevintheilen9643]

I really enjoyed your video- it brought back many memories. Kudos for climbing up with a child on your back! We shelled out two cribs once when my brother and I were in grade school. We had fun clubbing rats and playing in the husk and cob stacks. That was until we discovered I was allergic! Wound up going to school with a case of hives. Wasn't a problem in regular, small doses, but... To another poster: Cobs would more typically be used for bedding, saved for the outhouse (before my time) or spread back on the field. My mother made corncob jelly. Had to have fresh cobs from shelling- cobs picked up in the field behind a combine didn't work as well. Flavor was similar to apple jelly. Kudos to you also for careful management of the load. 100,000 lbs. of corn vs. 12,000 lbs. of tractor is not a fair fight, and wagon brakes are not always trustworthy. A few corrections: 1. The "shoot" up above is actually a 'chute'. 2. The overhead bins could of course hold any grain, but if the crib was meant to process livestock feed (typical) those bins would more likely have held oats or shelled corn- probably at least one of each. Soybean yield would have been far more than overhead crib bins could hold. Ear corn made excellent cattle feed, but pigs did better on ground shelled corn. Ground up soybeans, i.e. soybean meal, was purchased in volume from a local feed mill along with other supplements. 3. What you called "bird's wings" are actually 'bee's wings'. Doesn't make much sense to call them 'bird's wings', does it? 😉 Thanks again!

[@jamesmisener3006]

I didn't know corn was still stored this way. Old school ways sometimes pay back in ways you dont realize. Sounds like you all had fun that day. Cheers 🇨🇦

[@budklw]

I did enjoy watching this! I've never seen an operation like this before, really cool getting to see it.

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! There are a few Thresherman "festivals" out there. If you get a chance it's well worth the admission to see!

[@cannon3267]

spent many an hour in a corn crib making weekend movie money as a teenager. shelling corn was a bit harder than baling hay because you didn't get a break between wagons. a little later in life, i tore many cribs down to recycle the lumber. the boards from the bean bins are polished smooth and make wonderful flooring.

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

I love hearing from everyone that used to shell cribs out as kids! I used to bale as a kid but when I got married I traded my hayrack for a sheller... I also tore down a corn crib. I love the big fat boards that we salvaged.

[@kathleenforsythe8456]

As a ten year old it was my job after the corn was shelled to sweep the crib sides then replace the floor boards. Filling the crib was more fun!!

[@jazzerbyte]

Very nice capture of the process! A premium building design with the center conveyor unload. That looked like a Cook sheller - he was always designing shellers for higher and higher capacities.

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

It was a B2 Minneapolis Moline Sheller. The guy who owns it souped-it up. It has a double blower on it. They bought it a few years back for $1,100.

[@KellyBenedix]

We did 3 wire cribs, one wooden and 2 three hight snow fence cribs. That was fun!!

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

Every year?!!! Your a beast! It takes a good 3 days to fill this one! I couldn't imagine filling multiple ones. Did you find you had more rot in the round cribs?

[@garyimhoff4768]

Awesome video, brings back memories of farming during the 50s. Have been to CS Agrow in Calumet talking to Craig Struve @ the former America Cyanamid fertilizer plant in the mid-90s. Thanks again!!!!!!

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

Brilliant! I know Craig. You still around the area? Thank you for watching!!

[@davidgahm4703]

Oh the memories , long time since I have seen something like this . The corn was pretty clean and must have been very dry . We used to use the corn cobs for bedding with the cattle and the shucks for bedding for the pigs . It was hard work , but rewarding . Farm life was the best back then .

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

Farm life is still the best! I love that you were raised on the farm. The values and lessons you learn never leave you!

[@lorenwarren2097]

The neighbors would get together. Oh the feasts the wives made were the best.

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

Us farm wives do try and keep the boys full and happy!

[@davidbrovelli9008]

I worked for a sheller in the mid 80’s during summers as a high schooler. I must’ve been screamed at a thousand times “keep the f**king drags full”.

[@jonharwood9390]

Great video, thanks for sharing!

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

I am glad you enjoyed the video!

[@sstransportexpressllc8223]

Good video it was fun to watch this process

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! I'm hoping to follow my husband around the farm and show more of farm life.

[@carysmith9039]

None of our cribs had a conveyor in the bottom or a cement floor Great idea😊

[@garyimhoff4768]

yes, I retired in 2004 and aatill hejp a friend farm. We storecorn in a bagging system.

[@merlestauter4368]

There were rats, mice and racoons. But it was really funny when a mouse went up your pant leg. There were very few combines in those days. No money and you always had neighbors and kids.

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

Thankfully no racoons! I think I am being plagued by a hawk or two this year. I have lost more chickens than I wish to admit. There were plenty of mice in the crib though!

[@randylyons2330]

That beats the Hell out of shoveling, that was the only way we had to unload all 3 cribs we I was young

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

Oh the muscles you must have had! Were they round cribs?

[@randylyons2330]

@Chickens-ol3hg no they were just square buildings with a small door in the top for filling and a regular door in front for unloading. We would sack as many sacks as we could load in a pick up truck, then haul those sacks 10 miles or so to the mill to be ground. Then we would haul it back home to feed our 10 milk cows.

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

Your dad didn't buy a grinder/mixer? That's what we use. How many cattle did you have? Did you go to the mill daily? (And is the mill still in use today?)

[@LarryVetter]

Did a lot of this up until the early 90s. It was dirty hot work in the crib.

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

Agreed! Last year when we emptied it, it was super hot out. This day was perfect, there was a brilliant breeze and just on the cool side.

[@timgulotta7595]

My dad was the last around our area still using his crib. When he switched to 30” rows in 2001, the picker was no longer used.

[@michaelbates3659]

Thoroughly enjoyed the video but may I ask when you put sub titles up could you please leave them a little longer for us old timers to read them thank you . Would be interested to see you fill the shed at harvest. Thanks Michael 🇬🇧

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

Thank you for watching! I actually posted videos last year of it being filled. Here are the links! Sorry I didn't leave the subtitles up longer, I tried playing them and reading them before posting. Guess I should count to 2 before allowing them to disappear. Thank you for watching! kzbin.info/www/bejne/o2bFp3trq8hpaLMsi=NzHUTzR9EWeefEv2 kzbin.info/www/bejne/pWanoaydes5jftUsi=6UIA3nbtLRZQvPki

[@raincoast9010]

Nice crib and conveyor.

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

Thank you! There's always things you want to change, but this crib is in such great shape.

[@tarheelpatch3386]

Dang you unloading with a conveyor, grain shovel what we used

[@marksmith9142]

My grandfather made a living in the summer shelling ear corn during the 50’s and 60’s in Rush county Indiana.

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

I bet he had some stories to tell! Shelling takes alot of work in a short amount of time. Everyone has to know their job well! God bless him!

[@marksmith9142]

@ My grandparents never missed a fish fry or the county fair. There wasn’t too many farmers that my grandparents didn’t know. I was always amazed at all the people that they spoke to. Of course at that time,there wasn’t too many a lot more farmers.

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

That is great! He sounds like my dad! Can't go anywhere with him!!

[@marksmith9142]

@ 😆😆😆

[@jasonmushersee]

worked at a 5th gen dairy still using about the same crib filled it with 65ft elevator & hatch up on the roof the second story has a hatch on the floor just the width of the ladder every year goal was to get 1st floor somewhat cleaned out make room for seed corn & dig out the vintage grain cleaner stored in there used for oats 1st floor has a diy movable wood/chain conveyor hung by ropes for unloading they store inflatable swimming pool toys in there because its the 1 building no mice thanks to barn cats

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

Oh wow! Now that would be awesome to see! Do they still do it?

[@JohnDietrich-ek7sz]

Brings back me😊

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

I'm glad you enjoyed watching! It's always fun to talk to retired farmers!

[@Thegrim326]

Thats some nice lookin corn everything we combined this year was tiny or the cob was close enough to the ground we couldn't get the head under it lot of crop laying in the fields this year

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

Oh. I feel for you. We had corn leaning so bad one year we had to combine from 1 direction. My husband likes to plant 108+ day, flex ear corn for the crib. Last year's ears were from your wrist to elbow. I pray this next year goes better for you!

[@Thegrim326]

@Chickens-ol3hg we are gonna try going conventional this next year on our corn after years of spending big money on these seeds with all these traits and it turns out to be crappy it's sickening especially when you spend big bucks fertilizing for 200bu and get anywheres from 80 to 150 bushels at most 160 bushels to the acre in spots

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

Oh ouch! That does hurt. Was it because of the rains this spring then the drought the rest of the summer? The corn didn't set down roots and then dried out? We think that's what happened to us.

[@Thegrim326]

@Chickens-ol3hg a lot of our early plant had emerged before the rains and ended up mudding the one in but what I'm thinking happened is we had way to much rain in the spring stunning everything which is why I think our stalks were yellow till the drought but what I'm trying to figure is we had spots in the corn field where it was beautiful green all year long and honestly those spots have been the best yielding we've had but you go 2 or 3 rows either side of those spots it was crap

[@bunk822]

Can’t believe you took a baby inside there 🥹

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

Our kids help alot on the farm. They are a great help!

[@wa7shf]

Takes me back to my youth..Sole warming to see it done again but this time I am setting watching and not doing....

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

I am glad you enjoyed watching! We go to the Thresherman Show near us. It's always fun to watch! I love seeing the steam tractors! ❤️ Thank you for sharing!

[@brianbarnes350]

Can anyone explain the benefit of separating the husks from the cobs? Back in the day, what was done with each?

[@CuriousEarthMan]

Now that I finished watching it...Thanks for the great video! The "captions" added a lot! I appreciate your time and effort! Were you hauling in two wagons? You gave birth to a 70,000 lb baby :) Approx what year is the sheller? I thought MMs were usually yellow? Really nice footage of farm country! Thanks again!

[@ralphparry460]

Bin there - Done that. Except my dad's crib didn't have that great conveyor built into the bottom. We (I) had to shovel a lot of it out side doors that were spaced out along side of the 100' crib. UGGG. No wonder I left the farm.

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

Oh man! Now that is worse than baling hay! How old of a crib was it?

[@ralphparry460]

@@Chickens-ol3hg Probably built in the late 60's. And speaking of baling hay, I have also handled 10's of thousands of baled wheat straw, hay and pea straw in my day. I still have those fond memories of being up in the mow for days in 90 degree heat with dust so thick you could barely see the other guys up there with you. Farming life in the 60's - great fun and such a great learning experience. UGGGG

[@natwynn5593]

We gave the shucks to the cows and used the cob to help cleaning after doing number two. This was a time when the mule was part of the solution; properly trained the would keep up with the workers whether in corn or tobacco

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

Oh wow! That sounds fascinating!!! The mule just followed everyone around?!

[@bradmiller3582]

Always remember to tie string around the bottom of your pants legs so the mice and rats would not run up the inside of your pants.

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

LOL we put our pant legs in our boots!

[@jonbaker3728]

Curious where the corn goes now? Where does it end? cattle feed, ethanol, corn syrup, doritos?

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

That's a good question! I should ask for a tour of the elevator sometime!

[@SOUTHERNFURY1957]

What do you do with the cobs? Are they used any way such as burning for heat? Thanks!

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

We sold it to the guys with the sheller for bedding for cattle and kept a bit to burn ash tree trunks. (Which failed miserably) 😆

[@CuriousEarthMan]

Thank! Many small Chinese ships/barges carrying aggregate unload the same way. How do you keep a corn crib from becoming a giant rat feeder? (a giant feeder for rats, and a feeder for giant rats?) Can you line it with expanded metal, or you just don't worry about it?: Thank you!

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

We try and keep enough cats around to keep mice down. Occasionally you see a chicken carrying a mouse around, whether they killed it, or they found it..... Can't enclose it, need the air flow to not only dry it but also to keep it from rotting. Great question!

[@raincoast9010]

Please put a long handle on that shovel, it's giving me a sore back just watching!

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

Lol I know! I think its short because of the tight space in the crib, a long handle is impossible to move around. Those shovels don't leave the crib, we have other shovels in the shop.

[@JohnDietrich-ek7sz]

Memories

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

I'm so glad you enjoyed watching! God Bless you!

[@bendugas8632]

Very interesting, I'm going to ask the obvious question how do you stop the rats and mice getting into the corn when it's in the crib, my father had wheat his grib was six inch cement and every few years mice and or rats would have a short live feast. Very interesting video thanks for sharing.

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

Lots of Cats and Chickens! Thankfully we don't have rats, but we do have mice and squirrels. When you clean out the crib the dog and cats have a feast. My daughter was running around pointing them out to the dog.

[@theoss58]

Why don't the trailers have brakes? That's life-threatening

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

They do. I had a Brent and an EZ-Flow wagon. Even with brakes I take my time. I figure it's better to be yelled at for being slow than getting in an accident.

[@stevenix-hk6jk]

wheres all the RATS?

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

No rats! Lots of mice! The dog, cats, and chickens were quick to dispense them.

[@firstlast7867]

May I ask where you are located?

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

Located in IA.

[@ElysiumNZ]

How do you keep rodents and other wildlife out of those?

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

Cats, dogs and chickens! (It also helps to empty it...)

[@gzahirny]

Why don't you just use a combine if in the end your going to end up doing the exact same thing?

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

There's no good way to unload the crib into a combine head. We filled the crib hoping to feed it to cattle, but we never bought calves.

[@kentailor5007]

I was wondering the same thing

[@nspro931]

@@Chickens-ol3hg He was asking why not just combine it out in the field standing instead of stacking it inside a crib. I had the same q.

[@robertchastain3413]

Combines cost alot. This was probably already equipment they had available. Storage for shelled corn also costs a lot also.

[@jazzerbyte]

One of the reasons is that it can be harvested before it is fully dry. There is just enough air circulation to finish natural drying in the crib without using a gas fired dryer.

[@bestfriendhank1424]

Those printers make it less personable

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

Thank you for watching!

[@JamesWest-iu4jx]

It's easy to forget that at one time this was equivalent to walking on the moon.

[@Chickens-ol3hg]

Could you imagine seeing a tractor for the 1st time! What a game changer.