Welcome! Please use the navigational links to explore our website.
PartsASAP LogoCompany Logo Auction Link (800) 853-2651

Shop Now

   Allis Chalmers Case Farmall IH Ford 8N,9N,2N Ford
   Ferguson John Deere Massey Ferguson Minn. Moline Oliver

Discussion Forum

Harvesting sweet corn

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register
Author 
Lon

08-08-2002 18:05:12




Report to Moderator

I'm looking into the economics of market gardening sweet corn for next year. I'm in the midwest (Missouri). It appears that pickup loads of sweet corn literally disappear by mid-morning at some of the many suburban farmers markets during July. Going price appears to be about $4 per dozen. It appears that demand exceeds supply. Seems like an acre or two might be a nice investment. Anybody have experience with mechanical picking? Does a one-row picker work or will it damage the ears? What brand or type of picker would be best? Comments appreciated, especially regarding the economics/feasability. Thanks.

[Log in to Reply]   [No Email]
JK-NY

08-09-2002 19:03:51




Report to Moderator
 Re: Harvesting sweet corn in reply to Lon, 08-08-2002 18:05:12  

You can't pick sweet corn with a regular corn picker unless you want to corner the market on cream style corn. For a small acreage you should figure on hand picking. I grew a few acres of fresh market sweet corn for several years adnd never had a problem doing the picking alone . Nothing like going out in the morning to pick sweet corn and coming out soaked from the dew.The other posts had good suggestions, stagger plantings/maturitys, start small, plan on sprayng for bugs or throwing alot of corn to the cows. People today have no tolerance for worms in corn

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
JK-NY

08-09-2002 19:02:37




Report to Moderator
 Re: Harvesting sweet corn in reply to Lon, 08-08-2002 18:05:12  

You can't pick sweet corn with a regular corn picker unless you want to corner the market on cream style corn. For a small acreage you should figure on hand picking. I grew a few acres of fresh market sweet corn for several years adnd never had a problem doing the picking alone . Nothing like going out in the morning to pick sweet corn and coming out soaked from the dew.The other posts had good suggestions, stagger plantings/maturitys, start small, plan on sprayng for bugs or throwing alot of corn to the cows. People today have no tolerance for worms in corn

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
paul

08-09-2002 10:57:02




Report to Moderator
 Re: Harvesting sweet corn in reply to Lon, 08-08-2002 18:05:12  
Pickers just beat up the corn. You can't use any old corn picker, need the right stripper plates & obviously no husking bed. Even then, I hear the corn gets pretty beat up. Sweet corn is $2 - $2.50 here in southern MN.

--->Paul



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Slim

08-08-2002 19:27:09




Report to Moderator
 Re: Harvesting sweet corn in reply to Lon, 08-08-2002 18:05:12  
You would need alot of acres to justify the price of a sweet corn picker because they are quite expensive. I grow 25 acres of corn a year and its all hand picked. On a few acres picking it by hand should be an easy task. Just stagger your plantings so you have a supply of corn coming on each week and don't have it all coming on at once.You will also need some kind of a sprayer to spray the corn when its silking or you will have a worm problem. Maybe you could start out with a few acres and get bigger as you go.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Brian Schmidt

08-11-2002 16:25:41




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: Harvesting sweet corn in reply to Slim, 08-08-2002 19:27:09  
What chemical should you spray with to control the worms. Have had much problems in the past with small patches. Never knew what to spray on.

Thanks.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
[Options]  [Printer Friendly]  [Posting Help]  [Return to Forum]   [Log in to Reply]

Hop to:


TRACTOR PARTS TRACTOR MANUALS
We sell tractor parts!  We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home  |  Forums


Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy