A hardy group of farmers braved the icy temperatures to learn about seed cleaning at Provident Farms in northern Lycoming County. Provident Farms owner Dave Johnson and son, Caleb, and Penn State Extension hosted an organic study circle to learn about Dave’s recent venture in seed cleaning. Dave and his family have been farming in Liberty, PA since 1995. They currently produce crops and beef on the 130-acre farm that has been certified organic since 2001.
Dave provided a list of why he decided to start seed cleaning:
- The commodity market is tough for mid- to small-size commodity producers and seed cleaning allows the farmer to save their seed so that they have the variety that they want when they want it. It also provides the opportunity to create locally adapted landraces of crops.
- Organic producers cannot use synthetic herbicides, so their crops can be weedy. Seed cleaning removes the majority of weed seed from the harvested crop.
- Seed cleaning reduces the risk of rejected crops at the elevator or mill because it removes damaged and light grain (which tends to harbor mycotoxins), foreign material, and insects. Removal of fines also reduces risk of mold and insects in stored grain.
- The potential for value-added products. For example, Dave uses some of the larger materials removed by cleaning for poultry scratch grains.
- It provides an opportunity to produce specialty crops, like organic grains and oilseeds.
- It can provide an additional revenue stream when seed-cleaning is provided for other farms.
- As a new enterprise and a new type of equipment to the farm, it keeps life interesting!
Crippen seed cleaning demonstration, clean oats coming out of seed cleaner. Image Credit: Mary Barbercheck, Penn State
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Categories: Pennsylvania, Crops, Livestock, Beef Cattle