Improving Seed Conditioning (Paperback)

Introduction
To meet this need
How this program works
Getting maximum benefit from this technical assistance program
Making a personal permanent reference notebook
Using this training program
Updating or adapting this manual and your conditioning notebook
The operator makes seed conditioning separators operate better

What seed conditioning is and does
Importance of seed
Seed conditioning
Seed conditioning plant facilities
Seed conditioning staff and contract growers

Relations and interactions of plant staff with contract seed growers
Selecting contract growers
Training, supporting and supervising contract growers
Advising contract growers on quality control
Advising contract growers on harvesting and handling seed
Delivering raw seed to the conditioning plant

Seed conditioning plant location
Near the production area
Not near trash, weeds, etc., which attract rats and pests
Dry low-moisture area with good drainage
Minimal traffic and "outside" personnel
Ready access for trucks carrying seed in and out
Not in or adjoining areas where there is much traffic
Not near areas where seed plant noise and 24-hours/day operations would be objectionable

Seed conditioning plant area
Adequate space for all required plant operations
Concrete wall surrounding the entire area
Pave entire area with smooth-finish concrete
Only 2 gates into the plant area

Essential utilities
Fire protection
Clean water supply
Adequate and dependable electricity
Sewage
Safety and security
Trash and garbage

Conditioning plant facilities
Truck scales to weigh incoming and outgoing truck
Truck parking, inspecting loads, servicing and handling
Management and administrative offices
Internal quality control
Raw seed receiving facilities
Seed drying
Raw seed storage
Conditioning
Waste (screenings) handling and disposal
Conditioned seed storage
Conditioned seed and loading facilities
Workshop

Raw (Unconditioned) Seed
Receiving raw seed
Delivery handling systems for raw (unconditioned) seed
Methods of receiving raw seed
Bulk seed in loaded trucks
Bulk in forklift tote boxes
Receiving raw seed delivered in bags
Receiving facilities
Ensuring identity
Sampling and quality testing
Drying
Non-conditioned seed storage

Moving raw seed into conditioning
Setting up machines to prepare for conditioning
Sampling raw seed to determine conditioning needed
Checking flow sequence set-up to ensure complete conditioning
Set up to handle conditioned seed as it is bagged
Handling waste products
Conditioning plan and schedule
Moving raw seed into conditioning

Conditioning
Seed conditioning sequences
Handling and storing conditioned seed
Storing and shipping conditioned seed

Support Operations
Plant area and wall
Truck scales to weigh incoming and outgoing trucks
Management and Administrative offices
Internal quality control lab, staff and procedures
Truck parking, loading, inspecting loads, servicing and handling
Workshop

Seed Conditioning Principles
Basic concepts

Waste Products
Waste product creation

Sanitation and Pest/Insect Control
Cleanliness
Sanitation and pest/insect control

Conditioning Equipment Layout
Equipment layout

Receiving Pit
Receiving pit
Receiving installation

Bucket elevator characteristics

Bucket elevator operation

Vibrating conveyor characteristics

Vibrating conveyor operation

Horizontal belt conveyor characteristics

Horizontal belt conveyor operation

Inclined belt conveyor characteristics

Inclined belt conveyor operation

Drag chain conveyor characteristics

Drag chain conveyor operation

Airlift elevator characteristics

Airlift elevator operation

Ear Corn Conveyor Characteristics

Ear Corn Conveyor Operation

Corn (Maize) Sheller Characteristics

Corn Sheller Operation

Scalper (pre-cleaner) Characteristics

Scalper Operation

Debearder Characteristics

Debearder operation

Huller-Scarifier characteristics

Huller-scarifier Operations

Air-Screen Cleaner Characteristics

Screens

Screen Selection

Air-Screen Cleaner Operation

Cylinder Separation Characteristics

Cylinders

Cylinder Separator Operation

Disc Separator Characteristics

Discs

Disc Separator Operation

Gravity Separator Characteristics

Gravity Separator Operation

Stoner Characteristics

Stoner Operation

Pneumatic Separator Characteristics

Pneumatic Separator Operation

Aspirator Characteristics

Aspirator Operation

Spiral Separator Characteristics

Spiral Separator Operation

Width and Thickness Separator Characteristics

Width and Thicknes Separator Operation

Roll Mill Characteristics

Roll Mill Operation

Color Separator Characteristics

Color Separator Operation

Magnetic Separator Characteristics

Magnetic Separator Operation

Electrostatic Separator Characteristics

Electrostatic Separator Operation

Seed Treater Characteristics

Seed Treater Operation

Bagger-Weigher Characteristics

Bagger-Weigher Operation

Bag Closer Characteristics

Bag Closer Operation

Determining Seed Conditioning Requirements

Determining Conditioning Requirements for a Specific Separation Problem

Determining Sequence to Set up, Adjust, and Operate Conditioning Machines

Selected Machines Adjustment Sequence

Special Packaging Machine