Damien, our complaint is that the expensive seed from Tractor Supply currently
26.99 is the dirtiest stuff! The Rural King seed I bought for 16.99 is
cleaner. They are charging more because they can. Solution: buy Rural King’s
and let Tractor Supply know why.
Sent from my iPad
On Jan 28, 2021, at 1:17 PM, tnbarredowl (Redacted sender tnbarredowl for
DMARC) <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I've been a bit hesitant to jump in on the sunflower seed discussion, but
have finally decided to put in my two cents. My sister formerly owned a seed
store and they had a cleaner in their operations. The only difference in
sunflower seed without stalks, etc. and what we currently buy would be cost.
The birds couldn't care less. They have no problem picking through the trash
and finding the seeds. It does mean more debris for us to clean up later, but
it makes decent compost. I actually spread it over an area near my garden
and the uneaten seeds grow into free bird seed the next summer. If the
producers had to clean the seeds better, it adds more labor (more cost). I
currently pay $14 for a 40 lb bag. I really wouldn't want to pay $20-25 just
to have less trash. My birds still love the "dirty" food. Let's not start too
big a campaign to get clean seeds. We might not be able to afford to feed
birds if they respond to our requests.
Damien Simbeck
Killen AL
Sent from my smart phone. You can teach an old dog new tricks.
On Thursday, January 28, 2021 Stephen Tyson <kytysons9152@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
We haven’t had dust problems, but are always astounded at the level of sticks
and debris, in sunflower seed, regardless of the store where it’s purchased.
I have seen what modern harvesting equipment is capable of, by looking in
bins of corn, soy beans, or wheat (directly from the field), and I have never
seen this level of debris contamination. The cynic in me had concluded that
they don’t have to remove it, so they don’t… because we’re willing to pay for
it like that. If people are willing to pay for trash, why bother?
Frankly, I’d be fine if they just labeled the bags honestly: “38 pounds of
sunflower seed and 2 pounds of junk”.
Stephen Tyson, Schochoh
On Jan 28, 2021, at 8:08 AM, brainard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
I think this problem of "trash" in sunflower seed is systemic rather than
local. It is probably related to bird feeding being a secondary market for
the sunflower growers/suppliers and an overall tolerance for this debris in
the crushed oil market. As a grower of corn and soybeans, I know that what I
send to the grain terminals is discounted for the presence of "foreign
matter," much of which is beyond my control to exclude. At some point in the
supply chain the seed is supposed to be cleaned to a standard before it is
packaged.
I believe over the years I have seen more and more foreign matter in the
sunflower seed product that I have bought. It probably would take the entire
US bird feeding market to cease purchasing seed to make the suppliers do a
better job of cleaning the seed. I think the best that can be done is that
we complain to everyone we can. Many retailers won't/don't understand the
problem, so it would probably be more productive to ask your retailer for
the name of their supplier and try to make a call or send an email to them.
I know there are specialty suppliers who market a "trash free" sunflower
seed that has been cleaned an extra time, but that stuff is really expensive.
bpb, Louisville
-----Original Message-----
From: Barbara Brand
Sent: Jan 27, 2021 7:32 PM
To: rosemary.meredith@xxxxxxxxx
Cc: renee.yetter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, brainard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx, BIRDKY
Subject: [birdky] Re: Black Oil Sunflower seeds
I had the dust and debris problem with the last bag I bought from Lowe’s.
Perhaps the same suppliers are supplying all of these stores.
Barbara Brand
Sent from my iPhone
I’ve had the same issue back in late summer. Had to remove feeders and cleanOn Jan 27, 2021, at 6:17 PM, Meredith, Rosemary L (Elizabethtown)
<rosemary.meredith@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
again to get the dust removed it was blocking the openings! My sister also
has gotten a dirty bag from a different TSC then me.
Rosemary Meredith
LaRue Co.
Sent from my iPhone
On Jan 27, 2021, at 5:14 PM, Renee Yetter <renee.yetter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
I was interested to see this discussion, but for a different reason. Our
tractor supply does not seem to have had shortages, though maybe I missed
that just based on timing, but 3 or the last 4 bags we have purchased we
full, and I mean FULL of dust and debris. We actually had to put it through
a sieve because there was so much dust/debris mixed in with the seeds.
It’s a hazard for the person filling the feeders (we’ve had to wear masks),
and the insides of the tube feeders were coated with dust/debris. Anyone
else having that issues?
Renee B. Yetter
Williamsburg, KY 40769
Happy moments, praise God,Difficult moments, seek God,Quiet moments, worship
God,Painful moments, trust God,Every moment, thank God.
From: birdky-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <birdky-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of
brainard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 2021 8:23 AM
To: BIRDKY <birdky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [birdky] Re: Black Oil Sunflower seeds
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not
click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the
content is safe.
I obtain seed in Louisville from Lewis Seed Co. They supply seed to many
retailers in the Louisville area.
The owner told me this week that the reason for some shortages in supply is
simply that people are feeding birds more this year. As is being seen by
home improvement stores and animal shelters, in this year of Covid, many
families have reverted back to occupying themselves at home, including
entertaining themselves by feeding birds.
He said there *could* be some issues due to what freight is being hauled by
trucking companies, but that the supply is fine. Late last year the "new"
(i.e. 2020) crop of sunflower seed was hi priced due to the demand but that
it has settled back down now.
In most years the price of black oil seed is apparently most closely related
to the oil content of the crop. When good weather conditions result in a
crop with high oil content, there is higher demand from the crushed
sunflower seed oil market and the price is higher. When the crop is
affected negatively by poor weather, we who feed birds reap the benefit of
slightly lower prices.
bpb, Louisvile
-----Original Message-----
From: linda craiger
Sent: Jan 26, 2021 2:27 PM
To: "birdky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx"
Subject: [birdky] Black Oil Sunflower seeds
I typically purchase Black Oil Sunflower seeds from Tractor Supply in
Glasgow. They were out today & said do not know when they will get more
in due to a supplier issue. Anyone else finding sunflower seeds to be in
short supply?
Linda Craiger/ Glasgow
Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S® 6, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone
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