diff --git a/Lua API.html b/Lua API.html
index 49505e65b..659e19945 100644
--- a/Lua API.html	
+++ b/Lua API.html	
@@ -1562,6 +1562,10 @@ are removed from extents. If <tt class="docutils literal">allow_occupied</tt>, t
 <p>Checks if a bridge constructed at specified position would have
 support from terrain, and thus won't collapse if retracted.</p>
 </li>
+<li><p class="first"><tt class="docutils literal">dfhack.buildings.getStockpileContents(stockpile)</tt></p>
+<p>Returns a list of items stored on the given stockpile.
+Ignores empty bins, barrels, and wheelbarrows assigned as storage and transport for that stockpile.</p>
+</li>
 </ul>
 <p>Low-level building creation functions;</p>
 <ul>
diff --git a/Lua API.rst b/Lua API.rst
index 7283f196f..d770271ae 100644
--- a/Lua API.rst	
+++ b/Lua API.rst	
@@ -1394,6 +1394,11 @@ Buildings module
   Checks if a bridge constructed at specified position would have
   support from terrain, and thus won't collapse if retracted.
 
+* ``dfhack.buildings.getStockpileContents(stockpile)``
+
+  Returns a list of items stored on the given stockpile.
+  Ignores empty bins, barrels, and wheelbarrows assigned as storage and transport for that stockpile.
+
 Low-level building creation functions;
 
 * ``dfhack.buildings.allocInstance(pos, type, subtype, custom)``
diff --git a/library/LuaApi.cpp b/library/LuaApi.cpp
index 3fd18a8d6..f2693363a 100644
--- a/library/LuaApi.cpp
+++ b/library/LuaApi.cpp
@@ -1744,11 +1744,20 @@ int buildings_setSize(lua_State *state)
 
 }
 
+static int buildings_getStockpileContents(lua_State *state)
+{
+    std::vector<df::item*> pvec;
+    Buildings::getStockpileContents(Lua::CheckDFObject<df::building_stockpilest>(state,1),&pvec);
+    Lua::PushVector(state, pvec);
+    return 1;
+}
+
 static const luaL_Reg dfhack_buildings_funcs[] = {
     { "findAtTile", buildings_findAtTile },
     { "findCivzonesAt", buildings_findCivzonesAt },
     { "getCorrectSize", buildings_getCorrectSize },
     { "setSize", &Lua::CallWithCatchWrapper<buildings_setSize> },
+    { "getStockpileContents", buildings_getStockpileContents},
     { NULL, NULL }
 };
 
diff --git a/library/include/modules/Buildings.h b/library/include/modules/Buildings.h
index 9bb5c7e54..db12bb73e 100644
--- a/library/include/modules/Buildings.h
+++ b/library/include/modules/Buildings.h
@@ -27,14 +27,18 @@ distribution.
 #include "DataDefs.h"
 #include "Types.h"
 #include "df/building.h"
+#include "df/building_stockpilest.h"
 #include "df/building_type.h"
 #include "df/civzone_type.h"
 #include "df/furnace_type.h"
+#include "df/item.h"
 #include "df/workshop_type.h"
 #include "df/construction_type.h"
 #include "df/shop_type.h"
 #include "df/siegeengine_type.h"
 #include "df/trap_type.h"
+#include "modules/Items.h"
+#include "modules/Maps.h"
 
 namespace df
 {
@@ -186,5 +190,104 @@ DFHACK_EXPORT bool deconstruct(df::building *bld);
 void updateBuildings(color_ostream& out, void* ptr);
 void clearBuildings(color_ostream& out);
 
+/**
+ * Iterates over the items stored on a stockpile.
+ * (For stockpiles with containers, yields the containers, not their contents.)
+ * 
+ * Usage:
+ * 
+ *  Buildings::StockpileIterator stored;
+ *  for (stored.begin(stockpile); !stored.done(); ++stored) {
+ *      df::item *item = *stored;
+ *  }
+ * 
+ * Implementation detail: Uses tile blocks for speed.
+ * For each tile block that contains at least part of the stockpile,
+ * starting at the top left and moving right, row by row,
+ * the block's items are checked for anything on the ground within that stockpile.
+ */
+class DFHACK_EXPORT StockpileIterator : public std::iterator<std::input_iterator_tag, df::item>
+{
+    df::building_stockpilest* stockpile;
+    df::map_block* block;
+    size_t current;
+    df::item *item;
+    
+public:
+    StockpileIterator() {
+        stockpile = NULL;
+        block = NULL;
+        item = NULL;
+    }
+    
+    StockpileIterator& operator++() {
+        while (stockpile) {
+            if (block) {
+                // Check the next item in the current block.
+                ++current;
+            } else {
+                // Start with the top-left block covering the stockpile.
+                block = Maps::getTileBlock(stockpile->x1, stockpile->y1, stockpile->z);
+                current = 0;
+            }
+            
+            while (current >= block->items.size()) {
+                // Out of items in this block; find the next block to search.
+                if (block->map_pos.x + 16 < stockpile->x2) {
+                    block = Maps::getTileBlock(block->map_pos.x + 16, block->map_pos.y, stockpile->z);
+                    current = 0;
+                } else if (block->map_pos.y + 16 < stockpile->y2) {
+                    block = Maps::getTileBlock(stockpile->x1, block->map_pos.y + 16, stockpile->z);
+                    current = 0;
+                } else {
+                    // All items in all blocks have been checked.
+                    block = NULL;
+                    item = NULL;
+                    return *this;
+                }
+            }
+            
+            // If the current item isn't properly stored, move on to the next.
+            item = df::item::find(block->items[current]);
+            if (!item->flags.bits.on_ground) {
+                continue;
+            }
+            
+            if (!Buildings::containsTile(stockpile, item->pos, false)) {
+                continue;
+            }
+            
+            // Ignore empty bins, barrels, and wheelbarrows assigned here.
+            if (item->isAssignedToThisStockpile(stockpile->id)) {
+                auto ref = Items::getGeneralRef(item, df::general_ref_type::CONTAINS_ITEM);
+                if (!ref) continue;
+            }
+            
+            // Found a valid item; yield it.
+            break;
+        }
+        
+        return *this;
+    }
+    
+    void begin(df::building_stockpilest* sp) {
+        stockpile = sp;
+        operator++();
+    }
+    
+    df::item* operator*() {
+        return item;
+    }
+    
+    bool done() {
+        return block == NULL;
+    }
+};
+
+/**
+ * Collects items stored on a stockpile into a vector.
+ */
+DFHACK_EXPORT void getStockpileContents(df::building_stockpilest *stockpile, std::vector<df::item*> *items);
+
 }
 }
diff --git a/library/modules/Buildings.cpp b/library/modules/Buildings.cpp
index 3d836db52..885edfa02 100644
--- a/library/modules/Buildings.cpp
+++ b/library/modules/Buildings.cpp
@@ -1163,3 +1163,16 @@ void Buildings::updateBuildings(color_ostream& out, void* ptr)
         corner2.erase(id);
     }
 }
+
+void Buildings::getStockpileContents(df::building_stockpilest *stockpile, std::vector<df::item*> *items)
+{
+    CHECK_NULL_POINTER(stockpile);
+
+    items->clear();
+
+    Buildings::StockpileIterator stored;
+    for (stored.begin(stockpile); !stored.done(); ++stored) {
+        df::item *item = *stored;
+        items->push_back(item);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/plugins/autolabor.cpp b/plugins/autolabor.cpp
index ed907a788..05855a749 100644
--- a/plugins/autolabor.cpp
+++ b/plugins/autolabor.cpp
@@ -1480,206 +1480,3 @@ command_result autolabor (color_ostream &out, std::vector <std::string> & parame
         return CR_OK;
     }
 }
-
-struct StockpileInfo {
-    df::building_stockpilest* sp;
-    int size;
-    int free;
-    int x1, x2, y1, y2, z;
-
-public:
-    StockpileInfo(df::building_stockpilest *sp_) : sp(sp_)
-    {
-        MapExtras::MapCache mc;
-
-        z = sp_->z;
-        x1 = sp_->room.x;
-        x2 = sp_->room.x + sp_->room.width;
-        y1 = sp_->room.y;
-        y2 = sp_->room.y + sp_->room.height;
-        int e = 0;
-        size = 0;
-        free = 0;
-        for (int y = y1; y < y2; y++)
-            for (int x = x1; x < x2; x++)
-                if (sp_->room.extents[e++] == 1)
-                {
-                    size++;
-                    DFCoord cursor (x,y,z);
-                    uint32_t blockX = x / 16;
-                    uint32_t tileX = x % 16;
-                    uint32_t blockY = y / 16;
-                    uint32_t tileY = y % 16;
-                    MapExtras::Block * b = mc.BlockAt(cursor/16);
-                    if(b && b->is_valid())
-                    {
-                        auto &block = *b->getRaw();
-                        df::tile_occupancy &occ = block.occupancy[tileX][tileY];
-                        if (!occ.bits.item)
-                            free++;
-                    }
-                }
-    }
-
-    bool isFull() { return free == 0; }
-
-    bool canHold(df::item *i)
-    {
-        return false;
-    }
-
-    bool inStockpile(df::item *i)
-    {
-        df::item *container = Items::getContainer(i);
-        if (container)
-            return inStockpile(container);
-
-        if (i->pos.z != z) return false;
-        if (i->pos.x < x1 || i->pos.x >= x2 ||
-            i->pos.y < y1 || i->pos.y >= y2) return false;
-        int e = (i->pos.x - x1) + (i->pos.y - y1) * sp->room.width;
-        return sp->room.extents[e] == 1;
-    }
-
-    int getId() { return sp->id; }
-};
-
-static int stockcheck(color_ostream &out, vector <string> & parameters)
-{
-    int count = 0;
-
-    std::vector<StockpileInfo*> stockpiles;
-
-    for (int i = 0; i < world->buildings.all.size(); ++i)
-    {
-        df::building *build = world->buildings.all[i];
-        auto type = build->getType();
-        if (building_type::Stockpile == type)
-        {
-            df::building_stockpilest *sp = virtual_cast<df::building_stockpilest>(build);
-            StockpileInfo *spi = new StockpileInfo(sp);
-            stockpiles.push_back(spi);
-        }
-
-    }
-
-    std::vector<df::item*> &items = world->items.other[items_other_id::IN_PLAY];
-
-    // Precompute a bitmask with the bad flags
-    df::item_flags bad_flags;
-    bad_flags.whole = 0;
-
-#define F(x) bad_flags.bits.x = true;
-    F(dump); F(forbid); F(garbage_collect);
-    F(hostile); F(on_fire); F(rotten); F(trader);
-    F(in_building); F(construction); F(artifact);
-    F(spider_web); F(owned); F(in_job);
-#undef F
-
-    for (size_t i = 0; i < items.size(); i++)
-    {
-        df::item *item = items[i];
-        if (item->flags.whole & bad_flags.whole)
-            continue;
-
-        // we really only care about MEAT, FISH, FISH_RAW, PLANT, CHEESE, FOOD, and EGG
-
-        df::item_type typ = item->getType();
-        if (typ != item_type::MEAT &&
-            typ != item_type::FISH &&
-            typ != item_type::FISH_RAW &&
-            typ != item_type::PLANT &&
-            typ != item_type::CHEESE &&
-            typ != item_type::FOOD &&
-            typ != item_type::EGG)
-            continue;
-
-        df::item *container = 0;
-        df::unit *holder = 0;
-        df::building *building = 0;
-
-        for (size_t i = 0; i < item->general_refs.size(); i++)
-        {
-            df::general_ref *ref = item->general_refs[i];
-
-            switch (ref->getType())
-            {
-            case general_ref_type::CONTAINED_IN_ITEM:
-                container = ref->getItem();
-                break;
-
-            case general_ref_type::UNIT_HOLDER:
-                holder = ref->getUnit();
-                break;
-
-            case general_ref_type::BUILDING_HOLDER:
-                building = ref->getBuilding();
-                break;
-
-            default:
-                break;
-            }
-        }
-
-        df::item *nextcontainer = container;
-        df::item *lastcontainer = 0;
-
-        while(nextcontainer) {
-            df::item *thiscontainer = nextcontainer;
-            nextcontainer = 0;
-            for (size_t i = 0; i < thiscontainer->general_refs.size(); i++)
-            {
-                df::general_ref *ref = thiscontainer->general_refs[i];
-
-                switch (ref->getType())
-                {
-                case general_ref_type::CONTAINED_IN_ITEM:
-                    lastcontainer = nextcontainer = ref->getItem();
-                    break;
-
-                case general_ref_type::UNIT_HOLDER:
-                    holder = ref->getUnit();
-                    break;
-
-                case general_ref_type::BUILDING_HOLDER:
-                    building = ref->getBuilding();
-                    break;
-
-                default:
-                    break;
-                }
-            }
-        }
-
-        if (holder)
-            continue; // carried items do not rot as far as i know
-
-        if (building) {
-            df::building_type btype = building->getType();
-            if (btype == building_type::TradeDepot ||
-                btype == building_type::Wagon)
-                continue; // items in trade depot or the embark wagon do not rot
-
-            if (typ == item_type::EGG && btype ==building_type::NestBox)
-                continue; // eggs in nest box do not rot
-        }
-
-        int canHoldCount = 0;
-        StockpileInfo *current = 0;
-
-        for (int idx = 0; idx < stockpiles.size(); idx++)
-        {
-            StockpileInfo *spi = stockpiles[idx];
-            if (spi->canHold(item)) canHoldCount++;
-            if (spi->inStockpile(item)) current=spi;
-        }
-
-        if (current)
-            continue;
-
-        count++;
-
-    }
-
-    return count;
-}
diff --git a/plugins/autotrade.cpp b/plugins/autotrade.cpp
index 6e60d35d1..5b28a9171 100644
--- a/plugins/autotrade.cpp
+++ b/plugins/autotrade.cpp
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #include "df/viewscreen_dwarfmodest.h"
 #include "df/viewscreen_tradegoodsst.h"
 #include "df/building_stockpilest.h"
+#include "modules/Buildings.h"
 #include "modules/Items.h"
 #include "df/building_tradedepotst.h"
 #include "df/general_ref_building_holderst.h"
@@ -202,8 +203,6 @@ static void mark_all_in_stockpiles(vector<PersistentStockpileInfo> &stockpiles)
     if (!depot_info.findDepot())
         return;
 
-    std::vector<df::item*> &items = world->items.other[items_other_id::IN_PLAY];
-
 
     // Precompute a bitmask with the bad flags
     df::item_flags bad_flags;
@@ -218,18 +217,19 @@ static void mark_all_in_stockpiles(vector<PersistentStockpileInfo> &stockpiles)
 
     size_t marked_count = 0;
     size_t error_count = 0;
-    for (size_t i = 0; i < items.size(); i++)
+    for (auto it = stockpiles.begin(); it != stockpiles.end(); it++)
     {
-        df::item *item = items[i];
-        if (item->flags.whole & bad_flags.whole)
-            continue;
-
-        if (!is_valid_item(item))
+        if (!it->isValid())
             continue;
 
-        for (auto it = stockpiles.begin(); it != stockpiles.end(); it++)
+        Buildings::StockpileIterator stored;
+        for (stored.begin(it->getStockpile()); !stored.done(); ++stored)
         {
-            if (!it->inStockpile(item))
+            df::item *item = *stored;
+            if (item->flags.whole & bad_flags.whole)
+                continue;
+
+            if (!is_valid_item(item))
                 continue;
 
             // In case of container, check contained items for mandates
diff --git a/plugins/lua/stockflow.lua b/plugins/lua/stockflow.lua
index 2f564cec1..d1c06525a 100644
--- a/plugins/lua/stockflow.lua
+++ b/plugins/lua/stockflow.lua
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 local _ENV = mkmodule('plugins.stockflow')
 
 local gui = require "gui"
-local utils = require "utils"
 
 reaction_list = reaction_list or {}
 saved_orders = saved_orders or {}
@@ -116,10 +115,9 @@ function collect_orders()
     local result = {}
     local entries = dfhack.persistent.get_all("stockflow/entry", true)
     if entries then
-        local stockpiles = df.global.world.buildings.other.STOCKPILE
         for _, entry in ipairs(entries) do
             local spid = entry.ints[entry_ints.stockpile_id]
-            local stockpile = utils.binsearch(stockpiles, spid, "id")
+            local stockpile = df.building.find(spid)
             if stockpile then
                 local order_number = entry.ints[entry_ints.order_number]
                 if reaction_list[order_number] and entry.value == reaction_list[order_number].name then
@@ -975,49 +973,28 @@ function create_orders(order, amount)
     df.global.world.manager_orders:insert('#', new_order)
 end
 
-function findItemsAtTile(x, y, z)
-    -- There should be a faster and easier way to do this...
-    local found = {}
-    local items = dfhack.maps.getTileBlock(x, y, z).items
-    for _, item_id in ipairs(items) do
-        local item = df.item.find(item_id)
-        if item.pos.x == x and item.pos.y == y and item.flags.on_ground then
-            found[#found+1] = item
-        end
-    end
-    
-    return found
-end
-
 function countContents(container, settings)
     local total = 0
-    local blocking = false
     for _, item in ipairs(dfhack.items.getContainedItems(container)) do
         if item.flags.container then
             -- Recursively count the total of items contained.
             -- Not likely to go more than two levels deep.
-            local subtotal, subblocked = countContents(item, settings)
+            local subtotal = countContents(item, settings)
             if subtotal > 0 then
                 -- Ignore the inner container itself;
                 -- generally, only the contained items matter.
                 total = total + subtotal
-            elseif subblocked then
-                blocking = true
             elseif matches_stockpile(item, settings) then
                 -- The container may or may not be empty,
                 -- but is stockpiled as a container itself.
                 total = total + 1
-            else
-                blocking = true
             end
         elseif matches_stockpile(item, settings) then
             total = total + 1
-        else
-            blocking = true
         end
     end
     
-    return total, blocking
+    return total
 end
 
 function check_stockpiles(verbose)
@@ -1048,19 +1025,21 @@ function check_pile(sp, verbose)
                 if not designation.liquid_type then
                     if not occupancy.item then
                         empty = empty + 1
-                    else
-                        local item_count, blocked = count_pile_items(sp, x, y)
-                        if item_count > 0 then
-                            filled = filled + item_count
-                        elseif not blocked then
-                            empty = empty + 1
-                        end
                     end
                 end
             end
         end
     end
     
+    for _, item in ipairs(dfhack.buildings.getStockpileContents(sp)) do
+        if item:isAssignedToThisStockpile(sp.id) then
+            -- This is a bin or barrel associated with the stockpile.
+            filled = filled + countContents(item, sp.settings)
+        elseif matches_stockpile(item, sp.settings) then
+            filled = filled + 1
+        end
+    end
+    
     if verbose then
         print("Stockpile #"..sp.stockpile_number,
             string.format("%3d spaces", numspaces),
@@ -1071,29 +1050,6 @@ function check_pile(sp, verbose)
     return filled, empty
 end
 
-function count_pile_items(sp, x, y)
-    local item_count = 0
-    local blocked = false
-    for _, item in ipairs(findItemsAtTile(x, y, sp.z)) do
-        if item:isAssignedToThisStockpile(sp.id) then
-            -- This is a bin or barrel associated with the stockpile.
-            -- If it's empty, it doesn't count as blocking the stockpile space.
-            -- Oddly, when empty, item.flags.container might be false.
-            local subtotal, subblocked = countContents(item, sp.settings)
-            item_count = item_count + subtotal
-            if subblocked then
-                blocked = true
-            end
-        elseif matches_stockpile(item, sp.settings) then
-            item_count = item_count + 1
-        else
-            blocked = true
-        end
-    end
-    
-    return item_count, blocked
-end
-
 function matches_stockpile(item, settings)
     -- Check whether the item matches the stockpile.
     -- FIXME: This is starting to look like a whole lot of work.
diff --git a/plugins/uicommon.h b/plugins/uicommon.h
index 1daabf4c7..c900a585e 100644
--- a/plugins/uicommon.h
+++ b/plugins/uicommon.h
@@ -346,6 +346,11 @@ public:
         return this->sp == sp;
     }
 
+    df::building_stockpilest* getStockpile()
+    {
+        return sp;
+    }
+
 protected:
     int32_t id;
     df::building_stockpilest* sp;