Snapping Corn

AGRIMAN · Sep 19, 2013

I thought that I would share a few pictures of our new adventure. For the most part, we have always tried to grow and grind our own feed. I have been talking with some folks about improving my cow feed and using whole ear corn always seems to come up, so we have decided to snap a few acres of corn this year just see how well it works out.

I know snapping corn is nothing new, but I guess it just fell out of popularity around here many years ago and I have personally never done it (that's what combines are for). In order to pull this off, I have assembled a collection of old/antique corn snapping equipment to the likes of which I have never really seen too many times much less used. Including a 2 row New Idea snapper, an old flat bottom trailer (Electric?) and a old corn conveyer to put it the bin. After a few tubes of grease, some burnt oil and a can of PB Blaster, we took her out on a test run yesterday and everything seems to be running good.

All I can say is grandpa would be proud (or maybe he would ask me what the XXXX were you thinking son).

Timm250 · Sep 19, 2013

What kind/size of tractor are you using to pull the picker?

AGRIMAN · Sep 19, 2013

The tractor is a CaseIH Farmall 140A, it's 140 hp. I know it's way overkill, but at the time it was my only option. If we can finish moving hay, I will probably drop it down to a 60hp tractor and hope that it makes it a little easier to turn around.

dave1949 · Sep 19, 2013

That's a good adventure. I remember corn (we called them pickers) from when I was a kid. Every farm had a corn crib of some type or other then, and most kept some sort of animals to feed too.

I think they accounted for more than a few farm injuries, so do be careful and don't take safety shortcuts.

MossRoad · Sep 19, 2013

I've never heard the term "snapping corn".

AGRIMAN · Sep 19, 2013

MossRoad said:
I've never heard the term "snapping corn".

LOL... It's probably a southern thing. Around here we don't "pick" corn at all. If you are using a combine, you're " pulling" corn. If you getting the whole ear, you're "snapping" corn.

We do however, "pick" cotton and we "pick" peanuts but that's about it. Well, it will be supper time before long.

Timm250 · Sep 19, 2013

AGRIMAN said:
The tractor is a CaseIH Farmall 140A, it's 140 hp. I know it's way overkill, but at the time it was my only option. If we can finish moving hay, I will probably drop it down to a 60hp tractor and hope that it makes it a little easier to turn around.

My Dad had a 1 row & a 2 row. We pulled them with a 3000 Ford. We had wooden wagons & I shoveled the corn out of them into a crib. He raised over 100 acres a year of corn. Sold some & fed the rest to hogs & cattle.

MossRoad · Sep 20, 2013

AGRIMAN said:
... If you are using a combine, you're " pulling" corn. If you getting the whole ear, you're "snapping" corn.

...

Thanks! :thumbsup:

AGRIMAN · Sep 20, 2013

dave1949 said:
That's a good adventure. I remember corn (we called them pickers) from when I was a kid. Every farm had a corn crib of some type or other then, and most kept some sort of animals to feed too.

I think they accounted for more than a few farm injuries, so do be careful and don't take safety shortcuts.

Thanks and we will be extra careful. Our old corn crib is long gone, so we are going to put in one of our grain bins. We are going to grind it all for feed, but I had a few deer hunter's already call want to buy some. It seems the new hot thing is using ear corn. I might sale some but I'm not sure how to price it.