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Show ROAMiriG HIE HIGHLiriES with Ira Miiler FARM ELECTRIFICATION BUREAU By IRA MILLER Farm Electrification Bureau Pre-fabricated equipment has been I long time in coming to the farm, rhis is true particularly of structures necessary in the processing of such major crops as hay and corn. Extension Services and the U.S. Department De-partment of Agriculture have recommended recom-mended for many years that farmers in mows or other storage places because be-cause of the difficulty in obtaining competent labor to construct the types of systems needed. Usually such systems sys-tems consist of either raised slatted floors or a series of lateral ducts. An electrically driven fan supplies the air for both types of system to remove re-move excess moisture from the crop. Although plans for home-made systems sys-tems are available, and agricultural v a 1 i I ' SO.MET1I1MG iSEW HAS 15LL. AUULD here's a view of newly developed devel-oped pre-fabricaled barn hay curing ijslem. ! fuard against the fickle whimi ol nature by drying their hay and grain artificially. Wet hay in the mow can easily cause that bugaboo of rural Uvlng fire by spontaneous combustion. combus-tion. And soft corn, unless fed quickly or ensiled, may mold and become worthless by spring. Also, there's another angle to be - considered on mechanically cured hay. Its feeding value is much higher than that cured in the field. Tests conducted In Iowa last year recorded that artificially cured hay contained from 16 to 19 more digestible pro-Win pro-Win than that found in field cured samples. Many farmers, however, have hesl-tattd hesl-tattd to try curing their hay and corn engineers have offered technical construction con-struction assistance, some farmers have been concerned that mistakes still might be made which would result re-sult in an inefficient installation. Out of this hesitancy, however, has come a worthwhile addition to the growinj farm electrification line. It is a newly developed pre-fabricated metal hay curing "system." i Bui' in sections, it is suitable for all ) types of storage structures. Tests show that an electric fan can deliver as much as 40 more air to the hay through the open metal ducts than is possible through those constructed of wood. The sections can be arranged in various patterns and can be moved to various locations where needed. |