A question about grains.

[shingletownwalt]

I read on a survival web site to get grain at a local feed and grain dealer. I called one and they said what they have is for animal feed. They had whole wheat, corn, and some others. Can humans eat this? They,the web site, said to get grain without additives. Does anyone know about this kind of grain? The price is about half what the local flour mill wants. Any help appreciated. Thanks

[Shamrock1121]

I read on a survival web site to get grain at a local feed and grain dealer. I called one and they said what they have *is for animal feed. They had whole wheat, corn, and some others. Can humans eat this? They,the web site, said to get grain without additives. Does anyone know about this kind of grain? The price is about half what the local flour mill wants. Any help appreciated. Thanks

I have hundreds of pounds of grains/seeds/beans in storage and personally I wouldn't purchase grain used for animal feed, especially if you don't know the age or origin of the grain. I'd use it if it was my only option, but it's probably NOT the only option. Even with the price going up, wheat is still cheap. It's the shipping that kills you.... I purchase all my grains on a $50-week food budget - and a lot of it is more expensive organic.

Check with your local County Extension Office and see if they have any sources they can direct you to - perhaps a whole-foods coop.

1. Grain used for animal feed has a higher potential for aflatoxins from storage - hidden mold infections, fungicides or insecticides that are unsafe for human consumption.

2. The grain isn't cleaned for animals like it is for human consumption. Triple cleaned will get rid of most of the foreign particles, as well as things like tiny stones that can damage a grain mill.

3. The grains may have a high moisture content and that will cause it to potentially mold in storage. High-moisture grains will not mill correctly. If you have a stone mill, it will glaze the stones over. It will clog an impact mill and could burn the motor up.

4. The potential for getting a genetically modified grain could be greater in animal feed than grains destined for human consumption.

5. It's not wise to just have grain for storage, you also need to be able to use it. I mill flour at least twice a week and bake all our breads. Purchasing wheat that is sold as animal feed will leave you without the knowledge about the type of wheat it is (although if you are familiar with wheat, you can look at it and tell quite a bit about it).

If it's a hard wheat variety is there enough protein in it to make good bread? I need to know the type of grain and the protein/gluten level. I have to know what type of baking it does best - is it going to mill strong flour, or weak? I also prefer white wheat to red wheat varieties - it performs and has a better taste.

-Karen