Storing bulk cotton seed

[bklem]

We have no access to covered storage. At some point in the past, someone used 4x8 sheets of plywood to store cotton seed. My thought is to just add on to their original “pen” and cover with a tarp. I’m going to try and get ten tons so I’m not sure how big of a storage area I will need. Anybody have experience storing cotton seed on sight? I’m open to suggestions.

[Sika]

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[bbqfan5909]

Out in the opened works for us, we order 5 tons at a time. We dont have cows so we dont worry about fencing it, basically another feed spot.

[BolilloLoco]

Put a tarp on it to keep from blowing away.

[bbqfan5909]

Would take some serious winds to do that, the seed packs down pretty good. We are east of Midland and the wind never stops!

Originally Posted by BolilloLoco

Put a tarp on it to keep from blowing away.

[Mike Murphey]

you don't need a cover, we get 10 tons and just fence it off to keep livestock out of it....

[BonesandArrow]

When is the best time of year to put the cotton out? I would think the deer would eat whatever blows around

[bklem]

Originally Posted by Mike Murphey

you don't need a cover, we get 10 tons and just fence it off to keep livestock out of it....

I like hearing that but have a little concern. We had one station last year that for whatever reason did not get eaten much. The cotton seed in that spot did go bad after 2-3 months. Matter of fact it’s still in the feed pen now. If I order now, some of this won’t be fed until August. Is that to long to go uncovered?

[Mike Murphey]

No, we have had some for over a year old and the deer still eat it

[RMW]

We store ours inside of barn, just built a wall with steel posts concreted in ground and ran steel pearlings across and screwed 3/4 plywood to it. This is 125 tons

[bklem]

We decided on 16’x16’ plywood enclosure with tarp on bottom and top. Actually one end of the enclosure will be open. Will use 16’ cattle panel on that end so the truck can back in and dump. I’ll take pictures this weekend when seed gets there.

[TexasTK]

I am in the planning stages to build a new implement shed 45 x 45. Am going to pour cement floor and on one end plan on making a chute out of cinder blocks 9' wide x 6' tall x 25' long. This should make it more manageable to use front loader on tractor to transfer into truck. Anybody know how to calculate how much cottonseed I can put in a given area ?

[bklem]

Might make sure 9’ is wide enough for the truck to unload? I think it is as long as they can back directly straight into it. As for volume we had a 16’x16’x4’ tall structure and I’d say our 11 tons filled it to 85-90% capacity.

[bklem]

BTW I posted my cotton seed source on a different thread but here it is again. Hartzendorf Gin in Sinton. 361-364-1812. Says they have plenty.

[Huntingfool]

Originally Posted by bklem

BTW I posted my cotton seed source on a different thread but here it is again. Hartzendorf Gin in Sinton. 361-364-1812. Says they have plenty.

that is who we use - they do a good job - we use 50 tons a year

[bklem]

Originally Posted by Huntingfool

that is who we use - they do a good job - we use 50 tons a year

Have to be honest, I was concerned about giving up the source but they said there is no way they would run out. Our little 10-11 tons doesn’t amount to much with their volume!

[Jzoch]

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