Seed Cleaning at Provident Farms

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!

After much research, Dave and Caleb decided to purchase used seed cleaning equipment. They traveled to the mid-west to purchase a Crippen H434A, a 4-screen grain, seed, and bean cleaning unit, and a Clipper 228D, a 2-screen 'pre-cleaner' to remove bulk trash. Clipper seed and grain cleaners have been manufactured by the A.T. Ferrell Company, Inc. since 1869. The seed cleaners purchased came with 49 screens with openings of various sizes and shapes to clean various sizes and shapes of seed. The machine oscillates the screens and a fan blows the chaff and light materials to separate it from the seed. Dave has found that they can clean between 75 and 125 bushels/hour. The grain first moves across a top screen is solid and is called a scalper. The scalper is designed to remove the larger trash. The grain then falls to a sifting screen to remove smaller particles, then to a second set of scalpers and sifting screens. The scalpers are tilted, and the oscillations cause the larger trash to move to the top and the lighter material moves to the scalper where they are removed to waste bins. The grain receives a final air wash to remove light particles. A rotary cleaner rotates back and forth across the screens to prevent clogging of the screen openings. The cleaning process is very effective, resulting in clean grains virtually free of weeds seed, chaff, and fines.

After the group toured the cleaning unit, Dave discussed some of the lessons he learned while assembling his machinery and facility. He suggested that, if possible, to start with a new open building with more space than you think is necessary. The unit is quite large and they modified an old corn crib to be 2-stories tall to house their seed cleaning equipment. Dave built a platform about 20 feet off the ground that is accessed by stairs around his seed cleaner. If possible, keep everything on one floor to avoid having to go up and down stairs. He suggested that a lot of stair-climbing and work could be avoided with the use of augers, conveyers, and pneumatics, but that using those labor-savings devices would come with their own issues related to many moving parts. He also reminded the group that safety is very important, and operators should wear a harness when operating on elevated platforms. He also suggested to hire a millright or to thoroughly educate yourself to learn about the art and science of adjusting the various components of the cleaner, such as oscillating speed, screen tilt, and blower speed to get the best results for the various seeds being cleaned. 

Penn State Extension’s Organic Study Circles give agronomic crop growers an opportunity to discuss and exchange ideas and information to improve their organic field crop operations. All farmers are welcome, and you do not need to be a certified organic operator to participate. The concept of the study circle is to provide support and education to experienced and transitioning organic crop growers, and those wanting to learn more about organic production. These events are offered at no charge to participants.

The workshops and lunch are funded by grants from the USDA Organic Agriculture Research Extension Initiative and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.