The Cost of "Dirty" Seed: How Dockage Fees are Eating Your Profits

In farming, we often focus on the big numbers: yield per acre and the board price at the elevator. But there is a "hidden" number that can quietly strip away your profit before you even get your check: Dockage. When you deliver a load of grain that contains weed seeds, stems, hulls, or dust, you aren't just hauling "trash" for free—you’re actually being penalized for it. Today, we’re looking at the real math behind dirty seed and why cleaning on-farm is the fastest way to give yourself an immediate "raise."

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