Restoring Legacy Grains: A Guide to Cleaning Heirloom Wheat and Oats

There is a growing movement in the farming community toward legacy and heirloom grains. Varieties like Einkorn, Emmer, Spelt, and heirloom oats are making a major comeback because of their superior flavor and nutritional profiles. However, these "ancient" grains come with a unique challenge: they often retain their hulls much more tightly than modern, free-threshing wheat.

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.

Clean heirloom wheat and oats cleaned with Farmstead Products seed cleaner

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