Advanced Grain Operations Short Course Outline

(NOTE: This agenda is representative of the expected course material, but order of presentation is subject to change)

Monday, 8 August

8:30 AM
Arrive at Hansen Center for Course Check-in 

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

  • Welcome, Participant Introductions and Orientation
  • Review of course content, access to e-copies of presentations and resource materials
  • Grain Quality Characteristics and Measurement 
  • Break    
  • Air Properties (Psychrometrics) for Drying and Cooling 

Noon - Lunch & Group Photo

  • Grain Handling Equipment (p1)
  • Air Properties, Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC) and Safe Storage
  • Break
  • Hands-on Equipment and Grain Aeration & Storage App Training (Session 1) 
  • Adjourn

Tuesday, 9 August

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

  • Grain Handling Equipment (p2)
  • Aeration Principles – Purpose, Hardware, Airflow Rates, Cooling Front Movement 
  • Break    
  • Equipment Maintenance

Noon - Lunch

  • Aeration Principles – Airflow Resistance, Uniformity and Distribution
  • Inventory Management
  • Break
  • Hands-on Equipment and Grain Aeration & Storage App Training (Session 2)
  • Adjourn

Wednesday, 10 August

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

  • Grain Conditions Monitoring (Temperatures, Moisture Content, CO2)
  • Operations Costs 
  • Break
  • Grain Drying Principles 
  • Operating Grain Dryers (p1) 

Noon - Lunch

  • Operating Grain Dryers (p2) 
  • Aeration Principles – Fan Selection and Sizing with Hands-on Exercise 
  • Break
  • Hands-on Equipment and Grain Aeration & Storage App Training (Session 3) 
  • Adjourn 

Thursday, 11 August

8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

  • Inspection, Receiving, Binning and Shipping
  • Aeration Principles – Fan Operation and Control 
  • Break
  • Managing Outdoor Grain Piles

Noon - Lunch & Course Graduation Certificates

  • Course Evaluations 
  • Managing Aeration Shrink Loss in Bins, Silos, Tanks and Ground Piles 
  • Using the Grain Aeration & Storage App for Weather Forecasting and Shrink Management 
  • Break
  • Hands-on Equipment and Grain Aeration & Storage App Training (Session 4)
  • Adjourn 

Participants leave Ames late in the afternoon of Thursday, August 11, 2022