Why Use Corn From Century Farm Harvest
Heat?  |
Commodity corn compared to Century Harvest
Heat (CFHH) Corn.
|
Product |
Cleanliness |
Moisture
Content |
Delivered /
Availability |
|
“Local Farmers” or “Commodity Corn” |
Producer
disincentive to remove foreign matter as they are allowed and paid for material
to be included in the bulk delivery. |
15.5% or above,
based on how corn is stored |
Does not offer
delivery services; picking up from the farm can be “hit or
miss” |
|
Century Farm
Harvest Heat
Corn
|
Double-Screened
to remove most foreign matter in bulk product |
12 – 14% with
MC maintained until corn fuel can be used by corn stove
customer |
Established
business hours; delivery service available for busy corn stove
owners |
Here is why we are better:
1.) CFHH corn is cleaner than commodity
corn. There is no incentive for commodity corn producers to “clean”
their corn, as agricultural producers get paid for a certain percentage of
fines, cobs and even cracked kernels, before being penalized in price. Dirty
corn, such as this, interferes with the combustion process, causes excessive
smoke to be released, which may clog the flow of corn, and reduces the BTU value
of corn as fuel. It also increases maintenance of the stove, as the ash content
increases due to foreign matter. CFHH standards require a double-screened
process to remove 95% all foreign matter from the bulk
product.
2.) CFHH corn has lower moisture content than commodity
corn. The commodity corn producer gets paid for the water content of
the corn up to 15.5%, leaving little incentive to dry the corn any lower. The
ideal moisture content of the corn kernel for home heating is 12 to 14%. Any
higher than this and the corn does not burn very well; any lower and it burns
too fast, requiring the customer to use more product. Moisture content above 15%
could also result in the growth of fungi, mold and mildew as the corn is stored,
leading to spoilage, clumping problems and potential respiratory problems. CFHH
standards require corn to be dried down to the ideal 12 – 14% range. Storage of
the dried corn will be done inside, protected from the weather elements, to
maintain the ideal range until ready for use by CFHH corn stove
customers.
3.) CFHH corn is more readily available than commodity
corn. Most producers are in business to move a large amount of corn in
the shortest amount of time possible. Dealing with corn stove owners is not a
top priority, nor should it be, as the corn they sell is not in the right form
that is best for heating use. Another choice corn stove owners may turn to for
fuel is the local feed mill. There, bagged corn or bulk may not be of the
quality that is needed to efficiently run a corn stove. It is typically contains
foreign matter and the storage and handling is geared more toward feed rather
than fuel. CFHH is in business to add-value to corn by providing the right
product that is best for heating in a manner that is both convenient and
considerate to corn stove owners. CFHH will offer two alternative forms of corn
fuel, bagged and bulk, which can be obtained two ways – picked up from the
Herbet Family Century Farm property or delivered directly to the corn stove
owner’s home.
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