To clarify, I am not bothered by the stem remnants and always expect there will
be some. My comment was focused on how incredibly dusty the more recent bags
have been, so it’s very fine debris/particles. It requires care in the
transfer to containers and feeders so it isn’t inhaled, and the birds aren’t
consuming it as rapidly. I have put safflower out at times but it seems to
take a while for the regular visitors to opt in when that’s what I fill the
feeders with.
Renee B. Yetter
Biology Department
University of the Cumberlands
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
Joyce Bender
Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2021 1:31 PM
To: tnbarredowl@xxxxxxx
Cc: kytysons9152@xxxxxxxxx; brainard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx; 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.
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<mailto: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<mailto: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<mailto: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<mailto:rosemary.meredith@xxxxxxxxx>
Cc: renee.yetter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:renee.yetter@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
brainard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto: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
On Jan 27, 2021, at 6:17 PM, Meredith, Rosemary L (Elizabethtown)
<rosemary.meredith@xxxxxxxxx<mailto:rosemary.meredith@xxxxxxxxx>> wrote:
I’ve had the same issue back in late summer. Had to remove feeders and clean
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<mailto: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<mailto:birdky-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<birdky-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:birdky-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>> On Behalf Of
brainard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:brainard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 2021 8:23 AM
To: BIRDKY <birdky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto: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<mailto: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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