Show hemp plants converted to corn drying work two southern minnesota hemp plants have begun corn drying operations erat ions as the first publicly owned war plants converted to a use directly benefiting agriculture other plants are expected to be ready soon n or are available for or similar use constructed by the subsidiary the defense plant corporation for processing domestically grown hemp to relieve the critical shortage of cordage in tha the early months of the war they are no longer required in tic afie hemp program the plants already have been turned over to the farmers union grain terminal association of st paulford Paul for custom drying of corn owned by individual farmers one of the first tots lots of corn dried was bushels having a moisture content of 35 per cent and valued by corn buyers at not over 10 cents a bushel after drying the corn was sold tor fr 90 cents a bushel the cost of drying is estimated at between 6 and 10 cents a bushel the drying capacity of the plants Is estimated at to bushels per plant per day the exact amount depending upon the original moisture content of the corn the drying operation Is simple ear corn is hauled to one end of the plant where it is placed on the conveyor after going through the dryer the corn goes to a sheller at the other end of the plant the cobs are used as fuel in the drying plant it has been estimated that a fourth of all the corn in minnesota Is too wet to qualify for commodity credit corporation loans or purchases commercial drying facilities have not been able to accommodate all of the wet corn |