Customer Testimonial
<< Back to MapCombine Without Time-Robbing Bottlenecks
Last year everyone had so much corn the local elevator was blocked up. But that's when I moved into my organic corn. I just kept on running and put it in my CMC bins. If you don't have bins you sit in line.
Todd Henley
Walkerton, VA
Pressure Curing in Virginia
For Todd Henley, Walkerton, Virginia, grain quality is a key element in running a profitable farming operation. Henley grows better than 1,000 acres of conventional and organic corn and soybeans approximately 50 miles from the Atlantic coast.
In 2001 Henley erected four CMC Pressure Cure® drying bins: two 3,700 bushel bins for beans and two 8,300 bushel bins for corn. The two smaller bins were built specifically for Henley's 150 acres of certified organic beans, while the two larger bins provide a home for 150 acres of certified organic corn.
Grain quality is so critical to meeting organic contract specifications and earning organic premiums. So, when Henley learned about the innovative Pressure Curing process, it didn't take him long to see the potential benefit for his farm. "[Organic buyers] don't like to have grain dried with gas," says Henley. "The Pressure Cure drying is more natural and gives you better quality." In his experience to date, Henley has been pleased with the quality of his Pressure Cured beans and corn. One expression of this quality has been consistent, high test weight on his organic corn. "It was real good," notes Henley. "Close to 58 pounds."
Another important advantage has been better utilization of time and labor resources. Prior to his investment in Pressure Cure®, Henley hauled all of his grain to town at harvest. In some cases the combine would sit in the field waiting for a truck to return. Since "time is money" Henley found this lack of productivity quite frustrating. "When you are harvesting you don't like to have your machine sitting."
Now, with the ability to combine a substantial portion of his acreage without timerobbing bottlenecks, Henley can use his combine capacity more efficiently. "Last year everyone had so much corn the local elevator was blocked up. But that's when I moved into my organic corn. I just kept on running and put it in my CMC bins. If you don't have bins you sit in line."
Timely harvesting has also enabled Henley to reduce the weather risk on his high-value organic crops. "Sometimes we have hurricanes come through. That can flatten your crop. So you always feel better when it's in the bin." The power to harvest early at the peak of grain quality, and remove your crop from a hostile environment can produce large dividends on your investment in Pressure Curing.
Henley has been impressed with the ease and simplicity of his Pressure Cure® systems as well. " I was able to put my grain in the bin and leave it there. I didn't have to move it from a wet tank into a dryer. It cuts down on your handling." Since there is no gas, no burner, no valves and no stirring augers to maintain, farmers who Pressure Cure® usually experience many years of trouble-free service from their CMC systems. "The more complex a system you have the more problems you have," explains Henley. "I like simplicity."
While "keeping it simple" has always been at the heart of CMC's Pressure Cure® concept, proper management is essential to achieving the fullest possible benefit. Henley has appreciated the consulting expertise and bin probing service provided by his area Pressure Cure® Specialist, Terry Wastweet. "Terry's been most helpful in his follow-up," says Henley. "He's really kept in contact with me."
From preserving organic quality and premiums to better use of time, labor and equipment resources, Todd Henley is reaping a wide range of benefits from his Pressure Cure® systems. For all of these reasons he has reached the following conclusion: "I'd love to have a couple more Pressure Cure® bins."
