Burning corn for first time

[BrotherBart]

Dad swore that the first words he heard when he was born in 1914 were "They don't make cars like they used to, these kids today will never amount to anything and a farmer just can't make a living anymore."

 

[Bioburner]

Dad swore that the first words he heard when he was born in 1914 were "They don't make cars like they used to, these kids today will never amount to anything and a farmer just can't make a living anymore."

Well the family farm is done and thankfully they don't make cars like they used to. Would be nice to have an explanation of what half that stuff under the hood does.

 

[BrotherBart]

From the USDA:

"The vast majority of farms and ranches in the United States are family owned and operated. USDA classifies family farms as “any farm organized as a sole proprietorship, partnership, or family corporation. Family farms exclude farms organized as nonfamily corporations or cooperatives, as well as farms with hired managers” (USDA, Economic Research Service 2007 (broken link removed to http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/eib24/)). Under this definition, the National Agricultural Statistics Service’s 2007 Census of Agriculture reported that family farms account for almost 96 percent of the 2,204,792 farms in the United States."

 

[Bioburner]

I consider a family farm that dose not need to be a millionaire. Farm ground around here has went past 5k an acre. Tractors are six digits and combines hit seven digits. Have to grow a lot of corn or wheat to support that kind of machinery, let alone the interest on principle. Average age of farmers is now well over 55.

 

[BrotherBart]

• Very large family farms (101,265) gross over $500,000
• Large family farms (86,551) gross between $250,000 and $500,000
• Small family farms (1,925,799) gross under $250,000

http://www.nifa.usda.gov/nea/ag_systems/in_focus/familyfarm_if_overview.html

 

[gfreek]

By the way,been using star tron,works very well and easy.

Yes StarTron does work well ..I get ethanol free gas whenever I can for my lawn and garden equipment, boat, generator,etc..

 

[Mt Bob]

Yes StarTron does work well ..I get ethanol free gas whenever I can for my lawn and garden equipment, boat, generator,etc..

Getting harder to find out here(ethanol free).

 

[Bioburner]

• Very large family farms (101,265) gross over $500,000
• Large family farms (86,551) gross between $250,000 and $500,000
• Small family farms (1,925,799) gross under $250,000

http://www.nifa.usda.gov/nea/ag_systems/in_focus/familyfarm_if_overview.html

Would be very interesting to see how many of those bottom tier farms have to have outside income. I know of several half section farmers that the wife has job and husband works part time.

 

[Mt Bob]

Out here quite a few.And don't forget corp. farms get most subsidies,killing small farms.Buddies out here got out of wheat,grow only hay now.

 

[BrotherBart]

Would be very interesting to see how many of those bottom tier farms have to have outside income. I know of several half section farmers that the wife has job and husband works part time.

Raised in farm and ranch country in the fifties and sixties and easily half or more of the farm families I ever knew had one of them working outside the farm. And pretty much none of them were as small as 320 acres or "windshield farmers".

 

[Mt Bob]

Bart would know.I grew up around dairy farms,24/7 farmers,not much time for anything else with milking,calving and crops.Do not know much about crop only.

 

[BrotherBart]

Why they used to have a lot of kids.

Grandpa had six "farmhands". And rotated all of us grandkids through in two week shifts every summer for cotton season. To this day I can't stand to hoe a weed.

 

[nmaho]

Ok I am new to wood burning , but if you mix corn in with pellets isn't that just like making popcorn?

 

[Bioburner]

Field corn does not have the hull of popcorn to allow a pop. You do get snap crackle and an occasional pop when the end runt that looks like popcorn kernel lets go. Does smell like scorched popcorn out the venting. Really smells up the place if something goes wrong an vents into home. Its amaizing (yes pun intended) that only 2% of population grow the food for the rest of the US.

 

[Seasoned Oak]

Ok I am new to wood burning , but if you mix corn in with pellets isn't that just like making popcorn?

Popcorn will probably pop before it burns. Other corn not so much.

 

[iceguy4]

A couple of bumper stickers I like..."I farm, there for you eat" and "if you can read this, thank a teacher"

 

[Mt Bob]

Ke

A couple of bumper stickers I like..."I farm, there for you eat" and "if you can read this, thank a teacher"

"keep working,millions on welfare depend on you"

 

[BrotherBart]

."I farm, there for you eat"

"If you spelled that, don't blame a teacher."

 

[Bioburner]

Don't worry we're from the government and here to help.

 

[batchman]

"if you can read this, thank a teacher"

And the second line of that, "And if it's in English, thank a veteran!"

 

[iceguy4]

And the second line of that, "And if it's in English, thank a veteran!"

Good one!!