Anyone have a source for affordable GMO free grains?

The kind of grain you soak and make mash with...wheat, oats, barley, etc etc...the kind you mix protein with and feed to all your animals on the farm. I have a line on non GMO free conventionally grown 5 tonnes at a time kinda stuff but I would rather spend a little more and get GMO FREE. Anywhere in BC or Alberta sell this by the tonne? I would appreciate a website or email address if you know of someone. Thanks

Jaclyn

I grow my own grains. We sell it as well. I dont know how you would get it to you though. I grow oats and wheat and flax. Barley we have and I am due to rejuvenate my seed, but I do not usually grow that every year as a family member here on the farm has an allergy to it. I would rather be selling it to other people then the elevator. My wheat right now is #2 and flax is #1. I havent sent off my oats as those sell so fast I rarely ever have any for the elevator.

Pfarms, you grow flax?

Do you make Flax straw in small bales? Is there such a thing? I hear it is lovely for dog bedding. I am interested in finding a source and trying it out.

There is such a thing. I havent in the past, I have been using it to put organic matter back in the soil by tilling it in. I have the ability and equipment to do it. How small are you talking? I can make some this fall to see if you like it. It isnt that big a deal.

all wheat, oats and barley are GMO free in Canada at this point.

See if you can get 'Natural Harvest' at your local feed store. It is non-GMO.

Thanks everyone. Our feed store is hopeless. There is one brand of feed and that is that.
Where we are we have no silos, no ability to grow grains (much too wet year round) and shipping is killer...so whatver it is we are getting better be a great deal to start with. I will look into your suggestions.

Jaclyn

Beaver Valley Feeds in Williams lake has Natural Harvest feeds, if you are passing through. I know, hard to stock up much though if you are on a road trip!

pfarms wrote:There is such a thing. I havent in the past, I have been using it to put organic matter back in the soil by tilling it in. I have the ability and equipment to do it. How small are you talking? I can make some this fall to see if you like it. It isnt that big a deal.

By small I mean square bales. Or small rounds that a couple people could lift. I would love to give it a try if you are up to making some. Apparently it is lovely for dog bedding. Doesn't get caught in the coats and has enough oil in it to leave their hair shiny and smooth. At least that is what I have heard.

Schipperkesue wrote:

pfarms wrote:There is such a thing. I havent in the past, I have been using it to put organic matter back in the soil by tilling it in. I have the ability and equipment to do it. How small are you talking? I can make some this fall to see if you like it. It isnt that big a deal.

By small I mean square bales. Or small rounds that a couple people could lift. I would love to give it a try if you are up to making some. Apparently it is lovely for dog bedding. Doesn't get caught in the coats and has enough oil in it to leave their hair shiny and smooth. At least that is what I have heard.

When I said how small I ment weight, sorry. Due to my hips and back, I like 40 lb bales. I can make 60 or 100 lb too.

would the flax straw be good in nest boxes? I have been able to get wheat straw in the past, but find it too seedy, which is ok where the chickens can get it but not if I use it for mulch.

It depends on how the wheat is combined if it is seedy. I straight combine mine, which takes the seed off then cuts the straw. A bit more work, but much cleaner. I do it that way because I HATE the chickens digging through the nests and I use wheat straw for my bedding and dont need the horses getting it too.

Flax straw (for those that do not know) is what they used to make linoleum floors out of and put for insulation in buildings and used as roofing material because it really doesnt biodegrade well. It does have a higher oil content. Now, it is not soft. the cut ends can be sharp. Imagine more of tiny itty bitty little sticks. Probably why it wont get caught in the hair of dogs. There is a way to make it soft. It is also what linen is made of. You let it age and then beat it.

Now you have my interest! Any weight is fine my me. I have been seaarching for square straw bales for over 10 years.

Pfarms,would you like me to talk to some dog people about flax straw! I bet I could find at least 4 more more people interested. Maybe more!