At the recent advisory board meeting of the Iowa Grain Quality Initiative (IGQI) the announcement was shared that the Agribusiness Association of Iowa (AAI) will be partnering with IGQI to offer a week-long course in advanced grain elevator operations management. The course will be offered on the Iowa State University campus in Ames January 8-12, 2018.
“We are excited to partner with Iowa State to offer this course for grain elevator managers in the state of Iowa and surrounding area,” says Joel Brinkmeyer, chief executive of AAI. “The close relationship between IGQI and the AAI Grain Committee keeps our members up to date with information on the latest technology, seasonal challenges, and regulatory changes. This course will be a new opportunity to provide professional development for front line operations managers and location superintendents.”
The 1100 members of AAI represent a wide range of ag-related businesses, including more than 95% of all grain facilities in the state of Iowa.
Adds Charles Hurburgh who directs the Iowa Grain Quality Initiative, “AAI is on our IGQI advisory council and we have been discussing different approaches to partner with them in delivering educational offerings to their members and the Iowa grain industry. Iowa State has rapidly increased its emphasis on grain and grain processing in recent years, with the start of a feed mill development project, addition of Dr. Maier to the faculty, and the creation of an academic minor in Feed Technology. The technologies and risk management required of grain elevators are quickly turning grain handling into an industrial supply chain. This course will help current operators be on the leading edge of this transformation.”
Dirk Maier, professor of grain and feed operations and processing in the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, and a member of the IGQI management team, will lead the course. “Managing grain for maximum quality and quantity during handling, drying and storage is key to profitability of a grain elevator. Operations personnel carry a critical responsibility for minimizing shrink loss and maximizing quality. This course will teach the scientific principles and advanced practical skills to further increase the professional competence of grain industry employees.” Maier expects grain elevator managers from Iowa and surrounding states to attend the course which is scheduled to allow for driving to Ames on Monday morning and back home Friday afternoon.
The course will be team-taught by Bob Marlow, owner of Operations Professional Services and a well-known speaker and trainer with over 40 years of grain industry experience. Course content is based on the book Managing Stored Grain to Preserve Quality and Value written by Carl Reed which each course participant will receive as part of their registration fee. Subjects will include personnel management, operations costs, grain quality characteristics and measurement, air properties for drying and cooling, handling and conveying to minimize grain breakage, principles of grain drying and conditioning, grain monitoring and aeration control, and managing shrink loss to maximize profit. The emphasis of all topics will be on operating economics.
The Agribusiness Association of Iowa exists for the purpose of advocating, communicating and educating on behalf of a proactive, profitable, and environmentally responsible professional agribusiness industry. AAI’s membership consists of over 1,100 business locations across the state that supply feed, seed, crop protection chemicals, grain, fertilizer, equipment and additional products and services that benefit agriculture as a whole.
The course will be registered for participants to earn three continuing education units (3 CEUs) through Iowa State University that will be transferable towards maintaining existing grain industry credentials. Registered professional engineers will be able to submit course participation to count towards professional development hours.
More information on the course and how to register will soon become available via IGQI and AAI news releases and websites. For now save the date and plan to participate! For more information or inquiries, contact Dirk Maier at (515) 294-0140 or [email protected]
