Dry Corn For Human Consumption & Safety?
slee...@webtv.net
that is fit and safe for human consumption? Is the kind I would find at
the local Farmer's Coop for cattle OK and safe for human consumption?
Onething that bothers me is a cousin of mine once had a dairy where some
bad corn got into his dairy cow feed mixture. It turned out that the
local feed store he used had got a batch of dried corn that had
something called afloxin (sp?) in it. I'm not for sure that is the right
word for the stuff in the dried corn that messed up some of his cows so
he couldn't sell their milk,for a good while,for human consumption? But
as best I remember that is what it was called.
But what I'm interested in,is in buying say a 50# bag of dried shelled
corn that is fit and safe for human consumption. So just wondering if
the cattle feed corn I would find at the local farm stores would be OK
for that?
Ronny
Jonathan Ball
> I'm just wondering where I could get a 50# bag of dried shelled corn
> that is fit and safe for human consumption? Is the kind I would find at
> the local Farmer's Coop for cattle OK and safe for human consumption?
>
> Onething that bothers me is a cousin of mine once had a dairy where some
> bad corn got into his dairy cow feed mixture. It turned out that the
> local feed store he used had got a batch of dried corn that had
> something called afloxin (sp?)
Aflatoxin. It's a toxic mold:
Aflatoxin is a naturally occurring mycotoxin
produced by two types of mold: Aspergillus flavus
and Aspergillus parasiticus. Aspergillus flavus is
common and widespread in nature and is most often
found when certain grains are grown under stressful
conditions such as drought. The mold occurs in soil,
decaying vegetation, hay, and grains undergoing
microbiological deterioration and invades all types
of organic substrates whenever and wherever the
conditions are favorable for its growth. Favorable
conditions include high moisture content and high
temperature. At least 13 different types of
aflatoxin are produced in nature with aflatoxin B1
considered as the most toxic. While the presence of
Aspergillus flavus does not always indicate harmful
levels of aflatoxin it does mean that the potential
for aflatoxin production is present.
http://www.usda.gov/gipsa/newsroom/backgrounders/b-aflatox.htm
> in it. I'm not for sure that is the right
> word for the stuff in the dried corn that messed up some of his cows so
> he couldn't sell their milk,for a good while,for human consumption? But
> as best I remember that is what it was called.
>
> But what I'm interested in,is in buying say a 50# bag of dried shelled
> corn that is fit and safe for human consumption. So just wondering if
> the cattle feed corn I would find at the local farm stores would be OK
> for that?
I dunno.
> Ronny
>
Dean Hoffman
6499-400...@storefull-2276.public.lawson.webtv.net,
"slee...@webtv.net" <slee...@webtv.net> wrote:
> I'm just wondering where I could get a 50# bag of dried shelled corn
> that is fit and safe for human consumption? Is the kind I would find at
> the local Farmer's Coop for cattle OK and safe for human consumption?
Some cut.
The corn at the local coop is dent corn. It's fine for livestock or
commercial use. I don't know how in the world a person would eat the stuff.
It's awful hard when dried down.
It's possible to eat it shortly after the silk stage but that time frame
is really short, I think. You'd have to grab it right off the stalk and eat
it soon afterward. There is some information here about the types of corn
and their uses.
http://maize.agron.iastate.edu/maizearticle.html
Dean
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JMartin
<slee...@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:6499-400...@storefull-2276.public.lawson.webtv.net...
> I'm just wondering where I could get a 50# bag of dried shelled corn
> that is fit and safe for human consumption? Is the kind I would find at
> the local Farmer's Coop for cattle OK and safe for human consumption?
If you have a grain elevator around, you can ask for food grade corn. We
plant a good portion of food grade corn and get paid a premium for it.
What are you wanting to do with the dried corn? I mean how are you going to
prepare it? If I thought it was appetizing, I might pull some out of my bin
to eat, but it's pretty tough.
Jena
slee...@webtv.net
jon...@whitehouse.not (Jonathan Ball)
I'm just wondering where I could get a 50# bag of dried shelled corn
that is fit and safe for human consumption? Is the kind I would find at
the local Farmer's Coop for cattle OK and safe for human consumption?
Onething that bothers me is a cousin of mine once had a dairy where some
bad corn got into his dairy cow feed mixture. It turned out that the
local feed store he used had got a batch of dried corn that had
something called afloxin (sp?)
JB said:
Aflatoxin. It's a toxic mold:
Aflatoxin is a naturally occurring mycotoxin
produced by two types of mold: Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus
parasiticus. Aspergillus flavus is common and widespread in nature
and is most often found when certain grains are grown under
stressful conditions such as drought. The mold occurs in soil,
decaying vegetation, hay, and grains undergoing microbiological
deterioration and invades all types of organic substrates whenever
and wherever the conditions are favorable for its growth. Favorable
conditions include high moisture content and high temperature.
At least 13 different types of aflatoxin are produced in nature with
aflatoxin B1 considered as the most toxic. While the presence of
Aspergillus flavus does not always indicate harmful levels of
aflatoxin it does mean that the potential for aflatoxin production
is present.
http://www.usda.gov/gipsa/newsroom/backgrounders/b-aflatox.htm
in it.
Ronny:
I'm not for sure that is the right word for the stuff in the dried corn
that messed up some of his cows so he couldn't sell their milk,for a
good while,for human consumption? But as best I remember that is what it
was called.
But what I'm interested in,is in buying say a 50# bag of dried shelled
corn that is fit and safe for human consumption. So just wondering if
the cattle feed corn I would find at the local farm stores would be OK
for that?
Ronny
JB said:
I dunno.
Ronny says:
Thank you for that info and the link and for the way to rightly spell
the word aflatoxin.:-)
Just an interesting thought from what you wrote about it-I can see where
it could be in some hay and would be poisonous to animals. Perhaps this
is one reason people who have horses are so careful to feed them
good,dry hay?
Another interesting thought is that there surely must be a lot of
aflatoxin mold in compost? Yet that is a prized fertilizer and soil
conditioner among many people, including myself.
Ronny
slee...@webtv.net
dh0...@ineINbrasVALkaID.com (Dean Hoffman)
6499-400...@storefull-2276.public.lawson.webtv.net,
"slee...@webtv.net" <slee...@webtv.net> wrote:
I'm just wondering where I could get a 50# bag of dried shelled corn
that is fit and safe for human consumption? Is the kind I would find at
the local Farmer's Coop for cattle OK and safe for human consumption?
Dean:
Some cut.
The corn at the local coop is dent corn. It's fine for
livestock or commercial use. I don't know how in the world a person
would eat the stuff. It's awful hard when dried down.
It's possible to eat it shortly after the silk stage
but that time frame is really short, I think. You'd have to grab it
right off the stalk and eat it soon afterward. There is some
information here about the types of corn and their uses.
http://maize.agron.iastate.edu/maizearticle.html
Dean
Ronny says:
Thank you for that webpage link. :-)
I really should of mentioned in my first post that what I had in mind
was grinding down the dried corn for use as cornmeal.:-)
I think dent corn must be what my Dad and other farmers around here used
to grow for things like their cows,mules, horses,chickens etc? And they
also ground that same corn into cornmeal for them and their families to
eat.
Then when he was older and more retired I'm almost sure that's the same
type of corn Dad grew in his garden that we ate fresh? I think I
remember it being called field corn and called that as opposed to sweet
corn? I grew up eating that kind of corn fresh and actually prefer it's
taste to the sweet corn! LoL Field corn is the "real" corn :-) to me and
that because I like it's more pronounced "corn" type flavor. :-)
Ronny
Dean Hoffman
22699-400...@storefull-2271.public.lawson.webtv.net,
"slee...@webtv.net" <slee...@webtv.net> wrote:
> Ronny says:
> Thank you for that webpage link. :-)
>
> I really should of mentioned in my first post that what I had in mind
> was grinding down the dried corn for use as cornmeal.:-)
>
> I think dent corn must be what my Dad and other farmers around here used
> to grow for things like their cows,mules, horses,chickens etc? And they
> also ground that same corn into cornmeal for them and their families to
> eat.
>
> Then when he was older and more retired I'm almost sure that's the same
> type of corn Dad grew in his garden that we ate fresh? I think I
> remember it being called field corn and called that as opposed to sweet
> corn? I grew up eating that kind of corn fresh and actually prefer it's
> taste to the sweet corn! LoL Field corn is the "real" corn :-) to me and
> that because I like it's more pronounced "corn" type flavor. :-)
> Ronny
I vaguely remember having field corn on the cob as a kid. We had
it only a very few times if memory serves. It isn't edible that way very
long. It matures too quickly. I don't remember how it tasted.
I do remember the seed corn dealers used to give away sweet corn seed.
That was usually put in the garden. Raccoons could always find the sweet
corn and get it just before we did.
Dent corn and field corn are the same thing so your memory is working
fine.
slee...@webtv.net
antar...@comwares.net (JMartin)
news:6499-400...@storefull-2276.public.lawson.webtv.net...
I'm just wondering where I could get a 50# bag of dried shelled corn
that is fit and safe for human consumption? Is the kind I would find at
the local Farmer's Coop for cattle OK and safe for human consumption?
Jena said:
If you have a grain elevator around, you can ask for food grade corn. We
plant a good portion of food grade corn and get paid a premium for it.
Ronny says:
I don't think my area of the country has a grain elevator as such where
people bring in grain they have raised? But we have several farm and
feed stores where they have grain elevators where they grind and mix
grain for dairy farmers and such.
Mostly this is pastureland around here for cattle grazing and hay
raising. Although a few years ago I did hear of some people in the
northern part of my county who were raising oats for grain. I should
check that out and see if they are still there and doing that?
Jena said:
What are you wanting to do with the dried corn? I mean how are you going
to prepare it? If I thought it was appetizing, I might pull some out of
my bin to eat, but it's pretty tough.
Jena
Ronny says:
I was thinking about grinding it,just a little at a time as needed.
Thinking perhaps I could first run it through a hand cranked sausage
mill I have and that would course grind it? Then grind it into fine
cornmeal with an electric food processor I have? Would just have to try
this to see if it would work and need to look into how people used to
grind dry corn at home. My Mom said they used some sort of hand grinder.
As for uses,I like cornmeal in several ways such as cornbread and
cabbage or cornbread with pinto (red) beans. :-) I also like the taste
of cornmeal pancakes much better that regular white flour pancakes.
(Although sourdough white flour pancakes are awefully good tasting as
well to me!)LoL Then there are plain corncakes; but ya better have tough
teeth to eat those! LoL They are good tasting though. And my Mom used to
make cornbread dressing for Thanksgiving and other occasions. Ah,that
was so good with the chicken,chicken fat,fresh onions and spices in
that! :-) Then there are cornmeal tortillas. I like those though I've
never made any myself. I'm sure to be leaving out something here; :-)
but there is a lot of ways to use cornmeal that I like. :-)
What I don't like is the price of cornmeal at times in the local grocery
stores. Plus, the cornmeal you find there is usually degerminated which
means some of the best parts of the corn is taken out;but with fresh
ground cornmeal you get all of the corn and as I understand it,that is
simply a healthier food for people or animals.
I think for it to stay fresh and good you would need to grind up just a
small amount of cornmeal at a time? What you would use up fairly soon.
But I've also kept fresh ground cornmeal before in the freezer and that
works for a good while. Just need to put it in a heavy plastic type zip
lock back to keep any odors out from other things in your freezer.
Of course,I would have to know or find out some good ways to store 50#
of dry corn here at home so as to make sure nothing like mice or insects
got into it. I've got a webpage on that I found tonight,so have to read
that. (Have thought of metal trash cans or perhaps metal 50 gallon
drums that I can get cheap and nearby. Of course,would have to make sure
those drums weren't used for anything like carrying dangerous liquids
and such like. Have also thought about the 5 gallon food grade plastic
buckets with lids that you can sometimes get for free at places like Wal
Mart and other grocery stores?)
Have also thought that dried ground corn could possibly be (one part) of
a feed diet for quail and rabbits-if I decide to go ahead and raise some
of those this year?
Please excuse this long post. :-) I've just,for awhile,been in a
thinking and studying on mood about several things that have to do with
home food raising, buying,consumption,etc. and small animal husbandry
and their feed needs,etc. I've just been adding to and or getting,here
and there,more and more of the info I need on some of these things. I
just want to get what info on somethings that I can, so I can see to
make some better type decisions on which way to go on somethings? I
rather do that first-rather than jump in feet first and maybe/likely
make/do some unsafe,unwise and down right foolish things. :-) So here
and in some other places online,I am in my preparing mode! :-) And I
thank you all for putting up with me and helping me while I'm in that!
LoL
Ronny
slee...@webtv.net
dh0...@ineINbrasVALkaID.com (Dean Hoffman)
22699-400...@storefull-2271.public.lawson.webtv.net,
"slee...@webtv.net" <slee...@webtv.net> wrote:
Ronny says:
Thank you for that webpage link. :-)
I really should of mentioned in my first post that what I had in mind
was grinding down the dried corn for use as cornmeal.:-)
I think dent corn must be what my Dad and other farmers around here used
to grow for things like their cows,mules, horses,chickens etc? And they
also ground that same corn into cornmeal for them and their families to
eat.
Then when he was older and more retired I'm almost sure that's the same
type of corn Dad grew in his garden that we ate fresh? I think I
remember it being called field corn and called that as opposed to sweet
corn? I grew up eating that kind of corn fresh and actually prefer it's
taste to the sweet corn! LoL Field corn is the "real" corn :-) to me and
that because I like it's more pronounced "corn" type flavor. :-) Ronny
Dean says:
I vaguely remember
having field corn on the cob as a kid. We had it only a very few times
if memory serves. It isn't edible that way very long. It matures too
quickly. I don't remember how it tasted.
I do remember the seed corn dealers used to give away sweet
corn seed. That was usually put in the garden. Raccoons could always
find the sweet corn and get it just before we did.
Dent corn and field corn are the same thing so your memory
is working fine.
Dean
Ronny says:
It's good to know my memory is still working fairly good on somethings!
LoL
Now this story I sort of hate to tell because I learned something from
being lazy! LoL
Several years back we had some field corn from either a neighbor or our
garden. Had a lot of it and I didn't want to and was in no mood to take
the time to shuck it and cut it off the cob. :-) So I left it as it
was,shucks and all and put those in brown paper grocery bags and then in
our big freezer. I think I got it out of sight as quickly as possible
from my Mom :-) and of course,I said to myself that I could do it up
right later on! LoL Well,later on I cooked/boiled some of that frozen
corn on the cob and it was great-tasted just like fresh to me. So we had
good corn on the cob for some time after that. LoL Now I would do it
that way again;but not because I was lazy and just not in the mood to
fix the corn "right" to start with!LoL
Ronny
FarmerDill
Dent corn which characterized by the dimple in the individual grain and flint
corn which is hard and smooth. Farmers with good soil used to raised dent corn
because it is high yielding. Hill side farmers raised flint corn because it
would tolerate more adverse conditions (today flint corns are mostly sold as
ornamental indian corn). Dent corns are softer and make excellent corn flour.
Most of the old folks preferred flint corns for cornmeal and grits. Many of the
companies which support the organic movement still sell home mills. These may
either be steel burr mills or stone mills. Of course you could revert way back
and hand grind with a mortar and pestle, like the american indians did.
If the corn is clean, dry, and untreated it should be fine for human
consumption. The mold comes about when shell corn has too much moisture content
when stored in bulk.
Marvin
"FarmerDill" <farme...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20040115121055...@mb-m06.aol.com...
Many years ago my wife found a recipe in Mother Earth News or
one of the Foxfire books for hominy. After we'd picked our
corn, she and the kids went out and picked up some of the
missed ears, shelled them by hand, and made hominy. As I
recall, it was a bit of an exacting process involving lie
water and timing, and she only did it that one time. But it
was really good! This was hybrid field corn. I didn't know
there was anything called food grade corn, though, of course,
I've seen the ornamental corn you mentioned. Is the food
grade Jena mentioned similar?
--
Marvin
To reply, burn off fog
Larry Caldwell
@ineINbrasVALkaID.com (Dean Hoffman) says...
> The corn at the local coop is dent corn. It's fine for livestock or
> commercial use. I don't know how in the world a person would eat the stuff.
> It's awful hard when dried down.
You grind it into corn meal, then make corn bread, corn pone, corn
dodgers, corn dumplings or polenta. It is also the basis for lots of
Mexican cooking.
FarmerDill
>Many years ago my wife found a recipe in Mother Earth News or
>one of the Foxfire books for hominy. After we'd picked our
>corn, she and the kids went out and picked up some of the
>missed ears, shelled them by hand, and made hominy. As I
>recall, it was a bit of an exacting process involving lie
>water and timing, and she only did it that one time. But it
>was really good! This was hybrid field corn. I didn't know
>there was anything called food grade corn, though, of course,
>I've seen the ornamental corn you mentioned. Is the food
>grade Jena mentioned similar?
>--
>Marvin
precautions are taken to avoid contamination by insects, rodents etc.
The old folks loved the cultivar Hickory King ( they called it Heeltap) for
making lye hominy probably because it has such a large grain. I still like
hominy, but since Bush cans it, I get it that way now.
dill
Dean Hoffman
MPG.1a71af5cb...@news.west.earthlink.net, "Larry Caldwell"
<lar...@teleport.com> wrote:
I didn't see grits on your list. Are they made of a different type of
corn?
Larry Caldwell
@ineINbrasVALkaID.com (Dean Hoffman) says...
> I didn't see grits on your list. Are they made of a different type of
> corn?
Sort of. Grits are coarser than corn meal. If you grind corn loose,
you can sift out the meal, or you can run the corn through a hammer
mill.
You can also run water through your wood stove ashes and soak corn in
that to make hominy. It's kind of a maraschino corn without the food
coloring.