[alloysteel]

“Humans do not directly eat this corn.”

Back in the 1930’s, corn grain was used directly as home heating fuel, and there are still auger-fed corn-burning stoves available today. When the corn prices went so sky-high, because of the competing uses for corn, the grain-burning stoves largely disappeared, or were sold as sawdust-pellet stoves.

Some of the stoves were fitted so they could burn the entire stalk and leaves too. This trash left in the fields after harvest is still referred to as “stover”.

[PeterPrinciple]

stover

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You made me think. We burned a lot of corn cobs on the home farm, there was a lot of heat in them. Never burned stover, too much work for the heat.

On the other hand the Mongolians kept warm by burning cowpies, guess it is relative to how cold you are and what is available.

Origin of STOVER

Middle English, modification of Anglo-French estovers necessary supplies, from estover to be necessary, ultimately from Latin est opus there is need
First Known Use: 14th century
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stover

[reformedliberal]

I think the stalks and leaves around here are used for silage.

Friends who had a pellet stove got rid of it because it was smoky and they had to repaint every Spring.