4 ton fresh feed molding help!!!!!

[myheaven]

We just had 4 tons feed made up. we normaly buy direct from the farmer. He hasnt been able to sell to us due to his corn too wet. He thought his corn was safe and we went and got our 4 tons from him 2 weeks ago. Fast foward to today. I noticed that one barrel had a little mold on the top edge of the barrel. figured some moisture got in and scooped and dumped it out. DD came and told me the grain is hot and lumpy. I checked it all at this pm chore time and all barrels are hot in the center. We have stored our grain feed in metal barrels double lined with heavy duity plastic bags. one stays on the outer rim and one folds just slightly over the edge of the grain then we put on the lid. We have done it this way for 2 years without problems before. this is our feed til the harvest comes in in october but I dont think it will last.
Is there a way I can save this feed or are we doomed to have 4 tons moldy feed?
The farmer is a very good and reliable person. I just noticed and he is in bed now so I have to wait to call him in the am. I know there is no way he is trying to rip me off.

Can I save this by any chance?

[rambler]

You need to blow air through it to dry it out. I assume this is whole kernal corn, not on cobs, and not already ground?

http://www.dultmeier.com/products/0.1642.2519.2520/3279

This would be an example of a small hand screw in type of aerator that will move air through a pile of grain. At farm sales I see used ones go $50 from time to time.

Heat as well as air would work faster; but just air will work too.

Or, you can freeze it.

Or, make it wetter, compress it to eliminate all air, and make silage out of it. (This isn't an easy option for the amount & type of stuff you have....)

Those are about the only ways to make it keep.

Sounds like you are on borrowed time, if it is warm already, & you see signs of mold, it won't keep another week as it is. I don't have a good suggestion, I assume you are not in a position to find on of those aerators.

This was a difficult harvest in many areas, the corn was very wet & very late last fall, what is happening to you is common. I put 500 bu of corn in my wooden grainery to feed to the cattle over winter. Didn't quite get it all fed, mine is going bad too now with the warmer temps. Shoulda got it fed before spring in my case.

--->Paul

Edit: you said you had feed made, so perhaps it is ground or crushed feed now?

Going to be hard to blow air through that.

Can you add some oats into the mix, bring the moisture content down - oats is full of air around the hulls & often pretty ddry, will allow your feed to have a lower overall moisture content.

The sealed barrels are also trapping the moisture in the feed - as they heat, the moisutre rises, and has no where to go.

Here when I would feed ground feed in fall from new ear corn, I needed to feed it up in a week, couldn't grind more than that at a time. I understand your issue, I just don't think you will have a good solution from where you already are at?

[agmantoo]

What rambler said! You have got to dry the corn to a lower moisture content. Do you have a large place under roof where you can just pour it out a few inches thick?

[fordson major]

what agman said! only on tarps/plastic to keep it from wicking moisture and facilitate picking it up once dry!

[ladycat]

Originally Posted by agmantoo

What rambler said! You have got to dry the corn to a lower moisture content. Do you have a large place under roof where you can just pour it out a few inches thick?

That's what I was thinking.

If you don't have a roof to spread it out under, put tarps on the ground (on pallets if you have or can get them), then if rain is imminent, spread tarps on top, but leave the ones on top loose. It would be better if you can rig them up where they are at least a few inches above the surface of the grain.

Then stir the heck out of the grain several times a day until it's dry.

Whatever method you use for spreading it out (under a roof or not), do this ASAP, the grain will be ruined in a matter of days if you don't get it dry.

[fishhead]

I would spread it out on tarps and let it dry in the sun if possible. Or cover it with clear plastic and run a blower under the tarp to push the moisture out into the air.

I've got a 1/2 hp regenerative blower that puts out 35 cubic feet/ minute. If you were closer I'd loan it to you. I'm near Brainerd MN.

[fishhead]

I forgot to mention that sunlight should help kill the mold. I would spread it out thin and turn it throughout the day.

Good luck!

[myheaven]

Well we have a solution. We are taking it back up to the co-op a having it redried and a preservitive added. It will be a pain to load up that much feed. exp with being 23 weeks pregnant but its far better than loosing that much feed. The farmer I buy my feed from wants to come load it back up for me I may take hi up on his offer. Well see how my back feels by sunday. I have an auger Im going to run threw to stir and bring up the bottom and center.
It was whole cob corn. Shelled and ground seprately then mixed. Ill see about adding in a few hundredn lbs of oats also. I need to look into one of those airrator. we are buying time till we can get a big grain bin here with the airator in it.

The lids on the barrel do not fit tight they have gaps for moisture to exit.

[Wolf mom]

There was a thread a long while ago about preserving feed. As I remember dry ice was used in containers along with something called Dry Rid. I believe the containers were sealed tight after the dry ice & dry rid were put inside. Sorry I can't be more specific.

Good luck. Nice co-op to help you out.

[fishhead]

I believe you will want to seal the barrels once the feed is dry. Moisture wants to go to dry feed unless you live in the desert.

Here's an excellent thread on doing what you are attempting.

http://www.homesteadingtoday.com/sho...26#post3843526

[texican]

Sounds like you've learned a very expensive lesson.

If it's already molded, or going through a heat, I'd be leary about feeding it to any of my animals. Was it tested for aflotoxin?

I'd never consider storing bulk grain in airtight containers, if it were meant for animals. If you were storing it for human use, long term storage, maybe... but I'd check out AT Hagans storage recommendations. (he has a link under his name)

My uncle about ten years ago ran out of corn... his regular distributer had ran out, and he had to buy some on the open market. He got a tractor trailer load in, put it in his silo. Four days later, we were all in Colorado elk hunting... his daughter, my cousin, called and said the silo walls were getting hot, and the feed was 'turning'. His vacation was cut short... he drove the 1000 miles home, and had to throw all the corn away... it'd started getting moldy... had some of it tested and it was wayyyy to aflotoxin'y. He lost 30 tons of feed, and almost went bankrupt. btw... he now has all corn delivered tested for aflotoxin.

The corn he harvests, he puts in an open stack, under a leaning shed off of his barn. Has chicken wire 'tubes' from floor to ceiling throughout the 40x40 foot wide room. Keeps fans blowing down the 'tubes' to help dry out his corn.

Good luck, and be careful feeding that corn.