The "Wind and Shake" Secret
A lot of folks don't realize that cleaning bee pollen is identical to cleaning grain or seed. The physics are exactly the same. You have good, heavy material (the pollen granules) mixed with larger trash (legs and hive debris) and lighter chaff (wings and dust).
Because the process is identical, a standard agricultural seed cleaner or fanning mill is the ultimate shortcut. Instead of looking for a specialty piece of bee equipment that costs an arm and a leg, smart beekeepers are turning to reliable, farm-proven grain cleaners to do the heavy lifting. By using a combination of controlled air flow and mechanical vibration, a seed cleaning machine processes in five minutes what used to take you all evening.
The Reality Check: Manual vs. Machine

• The Kitchen Table & Tweezers: Takes roughly 240 minutes per batch. Causes eye strain, a sore back, and a ruined evening.
• Farmstead Seed Cleaner: Takes just 5 minutes per batch. You just pour it in, watch it work, and go relax.

Inside the 3-Screen Precision System
To get pollen clean enough for a retail bottle, you can't just rely on air alone; you need precision separation. That's where a specialized triple-pass screen setup comes into play. By dropping the pollen through three distinct layers of steel screens, the machine separates the good stuff from the trash instantly.
While the screens are vibrating to shake the pollen down through these sizes, a gentle, adjustable fan blows right through the falling material. Light wings and hollow chaff simply float away in the breeze, leaving you with a bin of pure, clean, profitable bee pollen.
Work Smarter, Not Harder
As a local farmer or beekeeper, your time is your money. Spending hours acting like a human optical sorter with a pair of tweezers limits how many hives you can run and how much pollen you can market. Repurposing a small, dependable seed cleaner for your apiary isn't just a neat trick—it's a massive boost to your farm's efficiency.
Stop losing your evenings to the kitchen table. Let the wind and shake do the work for you.
Farmstead Products

1. The "Double Hit" of Dockage
Most elevators and buyers penalize dirty grain in two distinct ways:

• Weight Deduction: If your load has 3% dockage, the buyer simply subtracts 3% of the total weight. You effectively grew, harvested, and hauled that 3% for $0.00.
• Cleaning Fees: Many buyers will then tack on a "cleaning or handling fee" to account for the extra work their equipment has to do to make your grain marketable.

When you add those two together, a single load of "dirty" corn or wheat can cost you hundreds of dollars in lost revenue.
2. The Math: A Real-World Example
Let’s look at a typical 1,000-bushel semi-load of wheat:

• Scenario A (Dirty): 3% dockage on a $6.00/bu price. You lose 30 bushels ($180) plus a potential $0.10/bu cleaning fee ($100). Total loss: $280 per load.
• Scenario B (Cleaned on Farm): By running that load through a Farmstead 300HD, you remove that 3% of trash at home. You deliver a 99.9% pure load, get the full $6,000 check, and you still have those 30 bushels of "screenings" to use as livestock feed or compost.
  

3. Avoiding Rejection and "Sample Grade"
In years with heavy weed pressure or late-season moisture, your grain might fall into the "Sample Grade" category. This is where the discounts become devastating.

• The Risk: Buyers may reject the load entirely or offer a "distressed" price that is 20-30% below market value.
• The Solution: A quick pass through a 150HD or 300HD can lift your grain from "Sample Grade" to "No. 1 Premium," potentially saving your entire year's margin on that crop.

4. Keeping the "Waste" on the Farm
One of the best parts of cleaning your own grain is that the "waste" isn't actually waste.

• Livestock Feed: Screenings from corn and wheat are excellent high-energy fillers for cattle or hogs.
• Weed Control: When the elevator cleans your grain, they keep the screenings. When you clean it, you keep the weed seeds on your farm where you can manage them (via composting or burning) rather than letting them spread.
  

Stop Leaving Money at the Elevator
The cost of dockage over a single season can often cover a significant portion of the investment in a Farmstead cleaner. Don't let the "middleman" profit from your hard work.

• Which Machine is Right for You? Compare the 150HD and 300HD capacities.
• Talk to the Family: Not sure how much dockage your current crop has? Call us at 320-384-0003We’ve helped farmers turn "dirty" loads into "premium" checks for years.

Happy Farming!
– The Farmstead Products Family

1. Round Hole Screens: Sizing by Width
Round hole screens are the most common "top screens" (scalpers). They work by measuring the width of the seed. If a seed is wider than the circle, it stays on top. If it’s narrower, it drops through.

• Best For: Round seeds like soybeans, corn, and peas.
• The Scalping Job: A round hole is excellent at catching long "trash" like straw, stems, and pods. Because the hole is a circle, a long piece of straw would have to stand perfectly on end to fall through—which rarely happens.

2. Slotted Hole Screens: Sizing by Thickness
Slotted screens (also called oblong or rectangular screens) measure the thickness of a seed. These are essential when your crop isn't a perfect circle.

• Best For: Elongated seeds like wheat, oats, and barley.
• The "Split" Remover: For soybean growers, a slotted bottom screen is a lifesaver. It allows "splits" (broken beans) to fall through because they are thinner than a whole bean, even though they might be just as wide.

3. Which One Goes Where?
In a standard two-screen setup like the Farmstead 150HD or 300HD, the most common configuration is:

• Top Screen: Round Hole (to scalp off large trash).
• Bottom Screen: Slotted Hole (to sift out thin weed seeds and broken kernels).

However, if you are cleaning elongated grains like oats, you might use a slotted screen on the top and the bottom to ensure you are grading by the thickness of the grain rather than the width.

4. Why We Use Precision Steel
At Farmstead Products, we don't settle for "close enough." Our screens are punched from heavy-duty American steel to ensure that a 12/64" hole is exactly that—all the way across the deck. When you are fighting for a "Certified Organic" premium or trying to save the best seed for next year's planting, that precision is what puts money back in your pocket.

Ready to Master Your Screen Setup?
The right screen turns your machine into a surgical tool for your harvest.

• Talk to the Pros: Not sure if you need a round or a slot for your specific weed problem? Call the shop at 320-384-0003. We’re a family business, and we’ve seen it all.

Happy Farming!
– The Farmstead Products Family

However, even with a portable unit, a little bit of planning goes a long way. Setting up your "cleaning station" correctly can mean the difference between a smooth afternoon and a dusty, disorganized mess. Here is how to layout your space for maximum efficiency.

1. The "In-and-Out" Flow
The most efficient layouts follow a straight line or a slight "L" shape.

• The Input: You need enough room to positioned your auger or gravity wagon to feed the hopper.
• The Output: Leave space for your discharge—whether that’s into a pro-box, a bagging station, or a small take-away auger heading to a bin.
• The Screenings: Don't forget where the "trash" goes! Place a dedicated tote or bin under the screenings discharge so you aren't shoveling floor-waste all day.

2. Prioritize Level Ground
While our machines are rugged, they perform best when they are perfectly level.

• The Vibration Factor: A level machine ensures that the grain bed moves across the screens at a consistent depth. If the machine is tilted, grain will "bunch" on one side, reducing your cleaning surface and slowing you down.

Pro Tip: If you’re cleaning outside on gravel or dirt, keep a few pieces of 2x6 lumber or heavy plywood on hand to create a stable, level "pad" for the machine’s feet.

3. Dust Management and Ventilation
Grain cleaning is a dusty job by nature.

• Airflow Direction: Position your machine so that the prevailing wind (if outside) or your shop’s exhaust fan (if inside) pulls the dust away from the operator.
• The Fan Advantage: Since our machines use high-velocity air to separate chaff, you can often duct that air out of a window or door using a simple flexible hose, keeping your shop air much cleaner.

4. Accessibility for Screen Changes
One of the best features of a Farmstead cleaner is how fast you can switch from wheat to beans.

• The "Clear Zone": Make sure you have at least 4 to 5 feet of clear space on the side where the screens slide out. You don't want to have to move a tractor just to swap a screen for a different crop.
  

Ready to Build Your Station?
A well-organized shop makes for a profitable harvest. Whether you're setting up a permanent corner in your machine shed or a mobile station on a trailer, we build our machines to be as flexible as you are.

• Need Dimensions? Check out the 150HD and 300HD specs to plan your floor space.
• Looking for Setup Advice? Download our Buyer’s Guide for more tips on integrating a cleaner into your farm.
• Call the Family: Not sure if a specific space in your barn will work? Call us at 320-384-0003 We’ve seen hundreds of different setups and can help you avoid common layout mistakes.

Happy Farming!
– The Farmstead Products Family

If you are trying to restore a heritage variety or tap into the high-margin market for artisan grains, your cleaning process is the most important step in the shed. Here is how to handle these specialty crops using your Farmstead 150HD or 300HD.

1. The Challenge of the "Hulled" Grain
Unlike modern wheat that "shucks" easily in the combine, many legacy grains like Spelt and Einkorn are harvested with the hull intact.

• The Goal: You need to remove the "trash" (straw, dust, and weed seeds) while keeping the hulled kernel protected until you are ready for dehulling or milling.
• The Solution: Use your Farmstead cleaner as a pre-cleaner. By removing the light chaff and heavy stones early, you protect your dehulling equipment from damage and ensure a higher-quality final product.

2. Sizing for Success: Heirloom Oats
Heirloom oats are often longer and thinner than commercial varieties. If your screens are sized for modern "fat" oats, you might end up with too much good grain falling through the bottom.

• Screen Tip: We recommend starting with a slightly larger top scalper to handle the "beards" often found on legacy oats, and a narrower slotted bottom screen to catch the thin kernels.
• Air Flow is Key: Heirloom varieties can be lighter in weight. Our adjustable air flow allows you to dial back the suction so you don't accidentally blow your premium crop out the back with the dust.
  

3. Preserving Germination for Seed Saving
Many of our customers clean legacy grains specifically to save the seed and build up their own locally adapted "landrace."

• Gentle Handling: Unlike industrial cleaners that use high-impact mechanical movements, the Farmstead vibrating screen design is gentle on the seed coat. This preserves high germination rates, ensuring that your rare heirloom variety thrives again next season.

4. Meeting "Artisan" Standards
Bakers and boutique millers pay a premium for legacy grains, but they have a zero-tolerance policy for stones or weed seeds like wild radish. Cleaning on-farm gives you the absolute control needed to meet these "Artisan Grade" standards. You aren't just selling a commodity; you are selling a specialty ingredient.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VNGpkcYxBE

Ready to Bring Back a Classic?
Restoring the grains of the past requires the technology of today. Whether you are working with a handful of rare seeds or a full-scale heritage harvest, we have the screens and the machines to help you succeed.

• Looking for Technical Advice?  Download our Screen Sizing Guide for specific recommendations on ancient grains.
• Compare the Models: See the 150HD and 300HD specs to see which fits your specialty operation.
• Call the Shop: Have a specific heirloom grain you're worried about? Give us a call at 320-384-0003 We love talking shop and helping farmers preserve these important varieties.

Happy Farming!
– The Farmstead Products Family

In a flat market, buyers can afford to be picky. If your grain has high dockage or foreign material, you aren't just losing money on weight—you’re losing out on the quality premiums that are currently driving the market. Here is why high-quality, cleaned grain is your best leverage this year.

1. Eliminating the "Trash" Discount
Elevators and buyers aren't in the business of buying weed seeds, stalks, or dust. When you deliver grain with 3% dockage, the buyer deducts that weight from your check—and then they often charge you a "cleaning fee" on top of it.

• The Math: On a 1,000-bushel load, 3% dockage is 30 bushels of lost profit. At $4.50 corn, that’s $135 per load just in "trash" you hauled for free.
• The Solution: By cleaning on-farm with a Farmstead 150HD or 300HD, you keep that weight (the screenings) for your own livestock feed and deliver a 99.9% pure product that gets the full bid.

2. Tapping into Food-Grade Premiums
The "clean label" and food traceability movement is a massive trend for 2026. Local mills, artisan bakeries, and specialty food processors are paying anywhere from $0.50 to $2.00 per bushel premiums for grain that meets strict purity standards.
To get these contracts, your grain has to be more than just "bin run"—it has to be pristine. On-farm cleaning is your ticket into these high-value markets that are shielded from the volatility of the general commodity board.

3. Avoiding "Vomitoxin" and Storage Rejection
Market trends show that buyers are becoming stricter about mold and toxins (like vomitoxin/DON). These diseases are often harbored in the fines, broken kernels, and light malnourished seeds.

• The Edge: Because our machines use a combination of screens and high-velocity air, you can effectively "grade out" the light, diseased kernels.
• The ROI: Turning "rejection-level" grain into "market-grade" grain can save a harvest from being a total loss.

4. Traceability and Export Standards
With international buyers in Mexico and Southeast Asia increasingly demanding high-quality U.S. soybeans and wheat, traceability is king. When you clean your own grain, you can document the entire process. You know exactly what went into that semi-load, giving you the confidence to sign contracts that require high-purity guarantees.

Is Your Grain "Premium Ready"?
Don't let "trash" in your grain keep you from the best bids of the year. Investing in a USA-made seed cleaner is the fastest way to add value to every acre you plant.

• See the Difference: [View the 150HD and 300HD Models] and see how they handle your specific crops.
• Calculate Your Savings: [Download our Seed Cleaner Buyer’s Guide] to see the real-world ROI of cleaning your own grain.
• Talk to a Human: Give us a call at 320-384-0003 We’re a family business, and we’ll help you figure out exactly which screens you need to hit those premium market standards.

Happy Farming!
– The Farmstead Products Family

The biggest "Organic Control Point" on many farms is the seed cleaner. If you use the same machine for both types of grain, you need a bulletproof protocol to satisfy your inspector. Here is how to "clean the cleaner" effectively and keep your records straight for 2026.

1. The Power of "Dry Cleaning"
Because Farmstead cleaners are built with an open, accessible design, they are much easier to clean than massive industrial units. You don't need harsh chemicals; you need physical removal.

• Vacuum and Blow: Use a high-powered shop vac and compressed air to clear out every nook, cranny, and corner of the hopper and the screen decks.
• The "Visual Check": Organic inspectors want to see that the machine is "visibly clean." Pay close attention to the seals and the discharge chutes where "hang-up" grain usually hides.

2. The "Purge" Batch
Even with the best vacuuming, there’s always a chance a single seed is tucked away. The standard organic protocol is to run a Purge Batch.

• How it works: Run a small amount of your organic grain through the machine first.
• The Result: This "first flush" pushes out any lingering traditional seeds.
• Important: This purge grain cannot be sold as organic. Most farmers feed it to their own livestock or sell it as traditional "cleanings."

3. Record Keeping: The Paperwork Your Inspector Wants
An inspector doesn't just want to hear that you cleaned the machine; they want to see the log. Your Equipment Cleaning Log should include:

• The Date and Time of the clean-out.
• The method used (e.g., "Vacuumed, compressed air, and 5-bushel wheat purge").
• The name of the person who performed the cleaning.

4. Why the 150HD and 300HD Make it Easier
Traditional "legacy" cleaners often have hidden internal chambers that are nearly impossible to reach without a full teardown. We designed the Farmstead 150HD and 300HD with the family farmer in mind.

• Easy Screen Removal: You can pull the screens in seconds to get a clear view of the entire flow path.
• Open Discharge: There are no "blind spots" where grain can sit and rot or contaminate your next batch.
  

Take the Stress Out of Your Audit
Cleaning doesn't have to take all day when you have the right equipment. Our machines are built to be the bridge between your traditional and organic fields.

• Looking for an Organic-Friendly Machine? [Compare the 150HD and 300HD Specs]
• Need Technical Help? [Download our Screen Sizing Guide] to see which screens are easiest to clean between runs.
• Contact the Shop: Have questions about organic certification and our equipment? Call us at [Insert Phone Number]. We’ve helped hundreds of farmers stay compliant.

Happy Farming!
– The Farmstead Products Family

Today, we’re breaking down the specs and the "real-world" capacity of both units to help you decide.

1. The Farmstead 150HD: The Small Farm Workhorse
The 150HD is our most popular model for homesteaders, specialty organic growers, and small family farms.

• Average Capacity: 150 bushels per hour.
• Weight: 350 lbs (extremely portable).
• Best For: Farmers cleaning for their own planting use, small-batch food-grade grains (like flour wheat), or specialty cover crops.
• The Edge: It has a small footprint that fits in any shed and can be moved by one person with a hand truck or easily with a small tractor.

2. The Farmstead 300HD: Industrial Speed for Growing Operations
If you are cleaning grain to sell by the semi-load or you have a tight "window" between harvest and storage, the 300HD is the answer.

• Average Capacity: 300 bushels per hour.
• Weight: 800 lbs (heavy-duty stability).
• Best For: Larger operations, custom cleaning businesses, or farms with high-volume corn and soybean rotations.
• The Edge: It doubles the throughput of the 150HD, meaning you can keep up with larger augers and faster-moving harvest crews.

3. How to Calculate Your "Bushel Needs"
To pick the right machine, don't just look at your total annual harvest. Look at your peak hour.

• Scenario A: If you harvest 2,000 bushels over a week and clean it as you have time, the 150HD is perfect. It’s affordable and does the job without stress.

• Scenario B: If you have a truck arriving from the field every 45 minutes and you need that grain cleaned before it hits the bin to prevent spoilage, the 300HD is a necessary investment to prevent a bottleneck.

4. Shared Quality, Different Scale
Regardless of which model you choose, both the 150HD and 300HD share the same Farmstead DNA:

• Made in the USA: Manufactured by our family with high-quality American steel.
• Easy Screen Changes: Both use our quick-change screen system for switching between crops.
• Direct Support: When you call with a question, you talk to the same people who built your machine.
  

Which One is Calling Your Name?
Whether you are looking for the compact efficiency of the 150HD or the raw power of the 300HD, we are here to help you get the right fit for your farm.

• Compare the Full Specs: View 150HD and 300HD
• Calculate Your ROI: Download our Buyer’s Guide to see how quickly these machines pay for themselves.
  
• Ready for a Quote? Call us at (320) 384-0003. Tell us your acreage and your typical harvest speed, and we’ll give you an honest recommendation.

Happy Farming!
– The Farmstead Products Family

Smart producers are finding a better way: Growing and cleaning their own cover crop seed. By using a Farmstead 150HD or 300HD, you can turn a small "seed plot" on your farm into a massive cost-saving engine.

1. The Math of Saving Your Own Seed
When you buy cover crop seed, you aren't just paying for the seed; you are paying for the commercial cleaning, the bagging, the shipping, and the retail markup.

• Purchased Seed: Often $2.00–$4.00 per lb for specialty legumes or brassicas.
• On-Farm Cleaning: Once you own the machine, your cost drops to essentially the time it takes to run the cleaner.

For many of our customers, the savings on cover crop seed alone can pay for a 150HD in just two seasons.
2. Cleaning Challenges: Clover vs. Radish
Cleaning these smaller seeds requires a bit more "finesse" than standard corn or beans, but your Farmstead cleaner is built for it.

• Clover: Because clover seeds are so small and dense, you need a very fine bottom screen (typically a wire screen) to sift out the dust and tiny weed seeds while keeping the good seed on top.
• Radish: Radish seeds often come out of the field with "pods" or fibrous stems. Your cleaner’s adjustable air flow is the key here—it blows the light pods out the back while the heavy, viable radish seeds drop through the screens.
  

3. Why Purity Matters for Cover Crops
The biggest risk of "bin-run" cover crop seed is accidentally planting a field full of weeds along with your cover. If you don't clean your seed, you might be spreading pigweed or wild mustard across your farm.
By running your seed through a Farmstead cleaner, you ensure that only the most viable, clean seed hits the soil. This leads to better stands, fewer weeds, and higher biomass—which is the whole point of a cover crop.
4. Versatility for Every Specialty Crop
Our 150HD (350 lbs) and 300HD (800 lbs) models are the perfect size for these specialty runs. You don't need a massive industrial plant to get professional results. Because our machines are portable, you can set them up right in the corner of the shop, run your clover for the year in a single afternoon, and move the machine back out of the way.

Ready to Slash Your Seed Bill?
Don't let high seed prices stop you from improving your soil health. Take control of your own seed supply this year.

• Check the Specs: See how the 150HD and 300HD handle small seeds.
  
• Get the Right Screens: Download our Screen Sizing Guide to see the exact hole sizes we recommend for clover, radish, and more.
• Talk to the Family: Not sure if your specific crop will clean well? Call us at (320) 384-0003. We’ve helped farmers clean everything from hemp to heritage wheat, and we’d love to help you.

Happy Farming!
– The Farmstead Products Family

If you’ve been looking at a new seed cleaner to help take control of your harvest, understanding Section 179 is the key to making that investment pay for itself before you even clean your first bushel.

1. What is Section 179?
Section 179 is a tax provision that allows farmers and small business owners to deduct the full purchase price of qualifying equipment in the year it is placed in service, rather than spreading that deduction out over several years.
For a family farm, this is a massive advantage. Instead of waiting years to "write off" your new 150HD or 300HD, you can take the entire deduction in 2026.
2. The "Real-World" Savings
Let's look at the math. If you purchase a Farmstead 300HD for $8,895 and you are in a 24% tax bracket, your potential tax savings could be over $2,100.
When you factor in that immediate tax relief, the "true cost" of the machine drops significantly, helping you reach your ROI even faster.
3. Does New and Used Equipment Qualify?
Yes! Section 179 applies to equipment that is "new to you," whether it's brand new from our shop or used. As long as it is used for business purposes more than 50% of the time, it’s a candidate for the deduction.
4. Why Buy Before Spring?
To claim the deduction for the 2026 tax year, the equipment must be purchased and placed in service by December 31st. However, most smart producers buy in the winter or early spring for two reasons:

• Preparation: You want the machine dialed in and ready before your harvest push.
• Inventory: Buying now ensures you beat the spring rush and have your unit in the barn before lead times get longer.

Take Control of Your Farm's Bottom Line
Section 179 was designed to help family-owned businesses like yours grow. By investing in a USA-made seed cleaner, you aren't just buying a tool—you are buying a tax-efficient asset that will serve your farm for decades.

• Run the Numbers:  https://www.farmsteadproducts.com/pricing.html
  
• Need a Quote? Give us a call at (320) 384-0003. We’ll get you a quote that includes shipping and your specific screens so you can hand it right to your tax professional.
• Get the Guide:  https://www.farmsteadproducts.com/pricing.html/grain-cleaning-equipment.html to see which model is the best fit for your 2026 goal.

Happy Farming!
– The Farmstead Products Family
Disclaimer: We are farmers and manufacturers, not tax professionals! Always consult with your accountant to see how Section 179 applies to your specific operation.