IGP Launches YouTube Channel

Learn about how the International Grains Program is adding value to U.S. grains and oilseeds through the courses featured in the videos on our YouTube Channel at: http://www.youtube.com/KansasStateIGP. 

FOSS Introduction to Flour Milling

After their recent milling equipment donation to Kansas State University’s Department of Grain Science, FOSS returned to learn about the industry they support. Twelve FOSS employees attended this special course offering from the International Grains Program to grain a basic understanding of the flour milling process.

“FOSS donated analytical equipment (NIR analyzers) to use in the Hal Ross mill and for teaching,” Mark Fowler, IGP associate director, says. “This is a special course for sales representatives and exececutives of FOSS to help them better understand the flour milling process and the industry they are selling their equipment to.”

The two day course was spent hearing presentations from Fowler and then participating in milling laboratories in the Shellenberger laboratory and the Hal Ross Flour Mill.

“This was a good training opportunity for our sales force and to bring us up to speed and know what to expect when entering a flour mill,” says Ron Lindgren, FOSS industry sales manager for milling and grain. “You are never too much of an expert to learn something new and different.” Group discussions also allowed the participants to share their personal experiences as well as offer advice to each other.

Grain Purchasing

This week kicks off the annual Grain Purchasing course at the International Grains Program Conference Center. The two, one-week courses are focused on contracting, transportation, logistics, trading techniques and hedging. The first week will introduce these concepts with the second week digging deeper into the techniques of grain purchasing.

“The range of presentations that we feature in this course helps create a great learning environment where participants have the opportunity to expand their understanding of grain purchasing through discussion and interactive activities,” says Jay O’Neil, course coordinator and IGP senior agricultural economist. “Course presentations will provide grain buyers and traders with the tools needed to ensure product quality, while managing price risk and contract integrity.”

Between the two courses the participants will have the opportunity to attend an option field trip to the Port of New Orleans, which is the largest grain export port in the U.S.

 

 

 

Establishing a HACCP Program

Forty participants from across the U.S. traveled to the International Grains Program Conference Center this week for a feed manufacturing course. In conjunction with the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) and the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) the program focused on establishing a HACCP program in the feed industry.

Individuals ranging from positions such as quality assurance personnel, feed mill managers, nutritionists and state government officials. During the week participants heard from industry professionals such as Matt Frederking, vice president of regulatory affairs and operations for RALCO Nutrition, Inc.They studied feed-industry regulations, learned about the pre-requisites of a HACCP program and were trained in the proper identification of biological, physical and chemical hazards.

The course is scheduled to wrap up tomorrow afternoon with a certificate presentation.

Buhler Expert Milling

This week the International Grains Program Conference Center is hosting the Buhler-KSU Expert Milling course where four participants traveled to attend the hands-on training opportunity.

Throughout the week participants have been in the classroom listening to presentations from Tobias Naenny from the Buhler Training Center in Uzwil, Switzerland. They have been learning everything in milling from break release systems, to purifiers and detailed wheat cleaning procedures. 

Today, the participants have been in the Hal Ross Flour Mill all day putting their knowledge to the test as they do milling practicals. Below are a few pictures from their training this morning. 

Grain Science Tour

Last week, there was a different buzz around the International Grains Program Conference Center as the Department of Grain Science hosted a group from Brazil for a tour of the grain science complex.

Six Brazilian flour milling customers of Nidera, an international trading company, traveled to K-State  to investigate the quality of U.S. hard red winter wheat, the U.S. wheat seed approval process and to discuss potential training programs. They had a full day starting right after their arrival at 9:30 as they met with milling specialists, wheat researchers and other K-State grain science faculty. They also went on several tours including the new Kansas Wheat Innovation Center, the Hal Ross Flour Mill and the Wheat Quality Lab.

IGP enjoyed being a part of their day and hope they will return soon!

New Partnerships

In response to industry demand, the International Grains Program and the Northern Crops Institute, Fargo, N.D., will join resources to host an advanced grain procurement strategies course set for May 6-10, 2013, as well as a durum wheat milling training, May 21-24, 2013. Both courses will be held at the NCI educational center situated on the campus of North Dakota State University.

“In past years, some of our courses have competed for the same audience,” explains Mark Weber, NCI director. He says, “By collaborating with IGP to avoid duplication, we will be able to have a larger audience attend the course and, consequently, deliver an even better educational program.”

These sentiments are echoed by IGP Associate Director Mark Fowler who says, “These joint courses are in direct response to the request made by our commodity stakeholders to align our resources with others who offer similar high quality programs.” He adds, “We also see this as an opportunity to extend the IGP reach through these collaborative efforts with NCI.”

The course information and registration can be found on the NCI website at www.norther-crops.com or by calling 701-231-7736.

This is just one example of the many IGP partnership trainings. IGP offers classes in the areas of feed manufacturing and grain management, flour milling and grain processing, and grain marketing and risk management. To learn more about IGP, please visit the website at www.grains.ksu.edu/igp.