Several months ago I mentioned to my dad that the black oil sunflower I was
buying seemed unusually grungy. He is in Terre Haute, IN (about 3 hours
from Louisville), and said he was having the exact same experience, so
another data point supporting that this seems to be a systemic issue.
Interesting to learn how the seed market works. I had no idea!
Greg Walker
Louisville
On Thu, Jan 28, 2021 at 1:41 PM <brainard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Damien and all,
The days of the local seed store are gone; 99% of the seed comes in on
semi-trucks from the Dakotas. No one cleans seed locally any more ...
unless it might be a mom and pop.
I agree that the "dirty" seed is unacceptable. Like others, I have to
"dump out" the contents of my cylindrical tube feeders once a week because
there is so much trash in the bottom that seeds quit being accessible to
the birds. If you don't do this, the stuff in the bottom spoils. I also
have a feeder that has to have a pipe cleaner stuck into the bottom ports
to clean the find "dusty" debris away that has become caked in the bottom,
also not allowing seed to come out the bottom ports.
We are not talking about small pieces of stem. Those have always been
something of an issue in black oil seed because the pieces are near to the
same size and weight of the seeds themselves. Screens and fans are used to
clean debris out and for whatever reason it simply isn't being done as well
in more recent years.
The 2019 season seed I bought and am still feeding was the dirtiest I'd
ever bought and the tales of folks who are talking about seed from this
year's crop are echoing that issue.
bpb, Louisville
-----Original Message-----
From: tnbarredowl@xxxxxxx
Sent: Jan 28, 2021 1:17 PM
To: kytysons9152@xxxxxxxxx, brainard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx, birdky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: birdky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: [birdky] Re: Black Oil Sunflower seeds
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
On Jan 27, 2021, at 6:17 PM, Meredith, Rosemary L (Elizabethtown) <
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>
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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