Naturally, a corn crib is the obvious answer for large acreage. But for small scale production (less than one acre) to keep family and an animal or two in ground corn over winter, how do others handle their field corn? Shelled or on cob? Stored inside or outside?

On the cob. Stores easier without electricity and fans to move air. Use old fashioned wooden picket fence(here we call them snow fences) if you need to make one.

50' of lathe snow fence (38' actually) set up in a 12' circle will store 180 bushel of ear corn at 4' deep. Two taller posts and a pipe for a ridge and a stretched tarp and you have a roof. The same 50' of snow fence in an 8' by 16' rectangle could store about 200 bushels of ear corn. This would be easier to place on a wood floor to get it off the ground.

Shelled corn needs to be dryer than ear corn when you store it as most storage for shelled corn is not well ventilated. The same amount of shelled corn would be an 7.5' square 4' high.

Inside or outside depends on the moisture content. Temperature and ventilation inside affect the time available to dry it to 15% or less.

I always thought that if I grew corn for home heating that I would build my "corncrib" on a 8' by 16' hay rack so I did not need to transfer the corn after picking it. Heating would only take about 300 bushel. Off the ground for rodent deterrent, easily tarped for a roof or parked under a roof.

Neal

in shocks

Neal- Your idea about using a hay rack for a rolling corn crib is interesting. Now I just need to find a good hay wagon in my area.

I have a 500 bu bulk bin that I thought about using for heating corn then I would only have to go outside on the front step for fuel. Unless I put an auger through the wall then just open the stove lid & turn the auger on.

I have about a half acre that I plan to bring in and was thinking I'll likely either put it in barrels. I'm expecting about 30 or 35 bushel and a container the size of a full size pick up bed holds 20. I also have some 6'galvenized water tanks. I may put some in one and cap the other on top. Hope to have a big enough crop next year to need a crib!

A full sized pickup will hold more than 35 bu of shelled corn I used to buy 1 ton of shelled corn and 1000 lbs of other feed and it all fit in a pickup box less than the height of the box.

I store it in a crib. When a half dozen ears picked randomly around the field will all float in water, I start picking. The corn will continue to dry in the crib and will keep. In a barrel or container without air circulation it will mold.
Jonathan and Arlee give good advice for storing a small amount without a crib.

Am I correct in assuming that shelled corn, if fully dry (less than 15% moisture) can be stored in an airtight container but ear corn should have ventilation? For a low budget crib I'm looking at a big crate I have kicking around from when my Pioneer forecart was delivered. (It needs a "roof" and be up on blocks, but it's a place to start.) My math says it will hold about 25 bushels, so that's a start.