Cleaning Oats With Antique Fanning Mill

[@michiganhay7844]

I used to have an old Fanning meal that was done by hand. It’s really cool to see you caring on small farm traditions.

[@Rollinghillsfarmsmn]

Thanks Ray. We like showing how to farm on a small budget. I feel like we could scale this place up and make a good living if we needed to. I hope it provides an example for younger farmers.

[@GosselinFarmsEdGosselin]

Good morning Dawn and Dave ☕☕☕

[@Rollinghillsfarmsmn]

Good morning Ed.

[@brenterickson1695]

When I was a kid the neighbors had a beutiful old wood fanning mill, it came off their farm down in Moose Lake... Their garage burned down in the 80's, so that was the end of the fanning mill. ..That's a nice set up you have for cleaning....Thanks Dave, have a Happy New Year.

[@Rollinghillsfarmsmn]

Thanks. It fits in with our mostly vintage equipment and small farm style. We had lots of trouble with odd weeds appearing in newly seeded fields. Stopped when we started cleaning our own seed.

[@pagrainfarmer]

Cleaning that seed definitely makes a difference in how many weeds come up in your grain. When I am going to plant seed that I harvested myself, there is a guy about 20 miles away who has an older grain cleaner unit mounted on a square-body chevy truck. Our neighbor (whose farm we rented for many years) used to have a fanning mill similar to yours in his barn. Unfortunately, the barn caved in and the mill was lost. I'm sorry I didn't get it out of there prior to the cave-in.

[@Rollinghillsfarmsmn]

We’ve streamlined the workflow to the point that it’s an enjoyable job. I couldn’t find a seed cleaner anywhere around when we started getting serious about oats so we bought this one from an antique shop🙄. Most neighboring farmers sold out or stopped small grain altogether. A few are getting back into it now.

[@darylgilbert3494]

I used one lots of times when i was a kid, but you cranked it by hand. And it was a lot bigger unit.

[@Rollinghillsfarmsmn]

Sounds like a lot of work but also great experience. Shows how farmers get things done.

[@pinesedgefarm1155]

A good way to save money. Those are some good cats, not all are like that.

[@Rollinghillsfarmsmn]

We enjoy doing it. Doesn’t really make sense on a large scale but it can work with small acreage like ours.

[@e.a.bfarms]

Wishing you guys a happy New Year, dave!

[@Rollinghillsfarmsmn]

Same to you and your family. Wish for snow ❄️!

[@patrickbachman2184]

Good morning,a little late today,but coffee’s hot and donut holes are here. Ice is sketchy at best, and there is a lot of open water. Shore is air pocked,then good ice but really thin,then open at around2-300 feet out. Lot of ice house are doing submarine duty right now!

[@Rollinghillsfarmsmn]

That’s crazy. I love ice fishing but I’ll wait for semi ice 🛻 😊

[@brycewiborg8095]

I would have guessed earlier. Familiar with the Clipper fanning mill, and the Weber which is similar. Dad cleaned Rodney oats, and Corsoy soybeans out of the granary every new year. Speaking of Happy New Year, and thank you for the memories Dave.

[@brycewiborg8095]

And I had forgotten oat test weight. Still remember corn test weight. Take advantage of mild weather.

[@Rollinghillsfarmsmn]

The electric motor makes me think newer and I can’t see any evidence of a hand crank. Information has been hard to find. I’ve had Rodney oats! Happy New Year to you too Bryce.

[@farawayfarm2520]

38 lb per bushel oats is pretty good stuff. I like the bagging system. 👍 I'm a little concerned about the zip ties though. I was expecting you to give a tutorial on how to tie a miller's knot. 😂

[@Rollinghillsfarmsmn]

I gave up knots. Zip ties are fast.

[@sportswolf1]

Do you sell oats? I'm looking for non gmo groats without glyphosate.

[@Rollinghillsfarmsmn]

I sold everything raised in ‘23. I’m not aware of GMO seed oats. Deon seed we harvested was bred by the University of MN. We don’t use any chemicals. Will seed about 15 acres in early May and hope to harvest in August.

[@sportswolf1]

​@@Rollinghillsfarmsmn When would be the best time to contact you on the purchase of oats? Do you presell. I love oats and I need them to be chemical free.

[@Rollinghillsfarmsmn]

@@sportswolf1Let’s wait to see how the crop turns out. Reach out in early August. Where are you?

[@sportswolf1]

@@Rollinghillsfarmsmn That sounds good. I'm in New Mexico.

[@GosselinFarmsEdGosselin]

Zip tie 😮 you don't sew the bags?? When we still messed with bags, I hand sewn them.. unless I was lucky enough to be helping a friend bag seed.. he had a double bagger with a scale and a sewing machine..

[@Rollinghillsfarmsmn]

I need one of those hand-held bag stitchers. But zip ties are cheap😊. I really need a seed tender and a larger storage bin with a load-out system but I’m not sure 20 acres and a 1970’s John Deere combine justify the investment😂.

[@GosselinFarmsEdGosselin]

@@Rollinghillsfarmsmn we were lucky enough to end up with an old fertilizer bin. Only holds 3,500# of oats, but that and the drill full when it heads to the field, gets 40 acres done at a time.. I don't miss bagged seed! Still end up with some once in a while, but if we were still doing as much as we were 30 years ago.. I'd never survive with my back.. gotta do what you gotta do to work smarter..