Contents
Moving Forward
CENTER OF EXCELLENCE
CENTER Goals and Objectives
Proposed SPREC Concept
Applied Research Facilities
Stored Products Faculty Strengths
Cooperative USDA Grain Research and Development Programs
Education/Tech Transfer
What SPREC Can Do For The U.S. Grain and Milling Industry
Board of Advisors
CENTER Funding
Additional Funding Needed

Breaking Ground and Cutting Ribbons on the New Facility

Moving Forward

In the early 1990's, OSU's stored product group recognized the need for a university based Stored Products Research and Education Center (SPREC) to address major problems faced by U.S. wheat, and small and coarse grain industries to increase internal competitiveness of elevators and processors. Increasing problems in processed food/feed storage warehouse management need to be studied.
Recent regulatory issues significantly increase operating costs and management required to maintain stored product quality. The number of U.S. elevator businesses have dropped from an estimated 14,000 to less than 10,000 since 1985 due to economic consolidation pressures. Issues faced by U.S. grain, seed and process industries which SPREC can help resolve:

Center of Excellence

OSU's applied research and education "CENTER of Excellence", SPREC, can supply the means to combat mounting grain storage and quality problems before they cause further serious damage to the grain sector of the primary hard red winter wheat states. Without alternative storage technologies, such as use of increased management using storage tools -- controlled aeration, and increased sanitation and monitoring -- monetary losses of stored grain at commercial, milling and producer facilities are expected to increase dramatically.

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CENTER Goals and Objectives

The general goal in the design, construction, operation and management of the SPREC is to enhance economic benefits to
grain and stored products for U.S. commercial enterprises through the development of integrated pest management (IPM) systems.
Specific objectives include:

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Proposed SPREC Concept

The tentative plan for the SPREC facility is to design the facility to incorporate advanced technology field and laboratory scale steel grain bins and handling systems for research and education to solve national high risk grain storage problems. The design concept includes a central building that will house SPREC's small grain elevator operations office and grain grading station next to the truck scales and dump pit.

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Applied Research Facilities

To conserve funds, a dump shed will not be installed. Twelve hopper tanks will be installed in line with the dump pit and truck scale area for grain blending research. These ground level hopper tanks will also be used to simulate a concrete silo annex at a country elevator, along with two large flat bottom grain bins for large bin research. Sixteen 500 bushel flat bottom research bins and sixteen to twenty-four 170 bushel flat bottom bins will be installed adjacent the SPREC CENTER building. The small instrumented bins will be used to continue studies from the research laboratories in the SPREC CENTER. A total of 52 small bins (170-500 bu) and two large (8,000 and 18,000 bu) bins will be installed. Indoor laboratory facilities and equipment will be used to study applied problems associated with "micro climates", before
transferring projects to larger pilot scale or full scale storage tanks for "macro climate" studies. Multi-purpose laboratories and classrooms incorporated with instrumentation and climate chambers in the SPREC will allow researchers to coordinate "cutting-edge" research directly with extension technology transfer specialists on a project team basis. Value added grain research will be coordinated with food engineers and scientists at OSU's new Food and Agricultural Product Research and Technology Center, which now has over 100 major commercial processing industry project studies underway. Grain shrinkage, blending, uniformity, grain/seed identity preserved (IP), and identified quality (IQ) research studies will be conducted to enhance marketing of specialized grain characteristics. Advanced research/technology from international stored grain research will be incorporated when applicable for U.S conditions. "Containerized" controlled atmosphere shipping technology will be studied for shipping value added products to export markets.

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Stored Products Faculty Strengths

Since 1985, OSU has emerged as a national leader in stored product management. OSU faculty have worked closely with Oklahoma, regional and national grain and processed food/feed industries in jointly sponsored multidisciplinary educational programs. OSU's stored products program strength and leadership in helping U.S. grain industries maintain a strong presence in world grain markets is evidenced by the following programs:

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Cooperative USDA Grain Research and Development Programs

During the past decade, OSU stored product research and extension faculty have developed strong working relationships with scientists at USGMPRC, Manhattan, KS. A formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between USGMPRC and OSU DASNR in June, 1994. In this MOU, DASNR will act as the outreach or technology transfer arm of USGMPRC, and will provide input to basic and applied research at the laboratory. In September, 1995, the first formal joint research agreement was funded. This $22,000 two year study, led by an OSU agricultural engineer (PI) and USGMPRC engineers, will develop modular advanced dump pit baffle systems to mechanically
control dump pit dust emissions, reducing the size/cost of negative air dust control systems on dump pits. These modular baffle and air system designs will adapt to elevators throughout the U.S. Other joint research and education projects are expected that will benefit Oklahoma and Southern High Plains. In July, 1997, a five year, multi-state USDA ARS study, "Area-Wide IPM for suppression of Insect Pests in Stored Wheat", was initiated involving USGMPRC scientists in cooperation with stored product faculty from Oklahoma State
University and Kansas State University. This demonstration study involves working with elevators to monitor current practices and incorporate IPM practices during grain storage and movement from producers through the grain marketing chain from country and terminal elevators to processors. This project is to develop and demonstrate IPM use in wheat market channels to maintain higher grain quality.

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Education/Tech Transfer

SPREC will operate like a small country elevator designed for research and technology transfer. Equipment storage and warehouse rooms will be designed to study processed food/feed storage warehouse conditions like cattle feed and pet food storage at feed stores. An outdoor area is planned to study problems encountered at country elevators, such as drainage problems from dry fertilizer handling, This area will drain into a small holding catchment for study of water quality from storm runoff. An adjacent area will be suitable for test sealing existing and salvaged grain bins for leakage and pressure holding capabilities, and to assembly of new storage/handling systems like PVC hermetic storage units used for storing bulk grain and seeds, and packaged food/feed products in controlled atmospheres. Direct "hands-on" technology transfer to commercial users by Extension specialists will be a major emphasis of the
CENTER. College level and adult continuing education in the facility will also be a primary focus directed to improving safety and quality of life of Oklahoma grain industry workers. These education programs will significantly strengthen state-wide and multi-state stored grain integrated pest management (IPM) techniques. Education/training assistance for grain export marketing efforts will enhance Oklahoma's economic development through seminars and "hands-on" workshops with visiting grain importers. These programs will be coordinated through DASNR's International Program, Center for International Trade Development (CITD) and Educational Television Services (ETS) working with the Oklahoma Wheat Commission.

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What SPREC Can Do For The U.S. Grain and Milling Industry

SPREC programs will focus on all aspects of stored product management by:

Maintaining Stored Grain Quality

Providing Technology Transfer and Education

Improving Stored Products Pest Management

Developing New Stored Grain Technologies

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Board of Advisors

A SPREC Board of Advisors will be established to oversee and advise about needs for ongoing research. This Board will include OSU stored product faculty, USGMPRC scientists, Oklahoma and national elevator and milling industry leaders and food processors.

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CENTER Funding

On May 8-9, 1995, a USDA CSREES Site Inspection Team visited OSU. The team interviewed the stored product faculty, met and talked with Oklahoma and national grain industry leaders, reviewed the proposed facility plan and toured the proposed site, a 5.75 acre plot on Highway 51 at the west edge of the university campus. The CSREES Team recommended that USDA set aside matching funds for the SPREC facility. In February, 1996, CSREES notified DASNR administrators of $480,150 of approved funding. But, the CSREES facility grant funding must be matched dollar for dollar. All private matching funds must be received by September, 1999 to release
the CSREES grant funds for construction. In August, 1997, the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station announced a plan to enhance industry matching funds by providing an additional $0.50 for each $1.00 of private funding contributed up to the point of completing the matching fund level of $480,150. Several national companies pledged three year funding of approximately $100,000 in 1996 and 1997. In August/September, 1997, Oklahoma grain elevator industry organizations initiated in-state industry fund raising by recommending that Oklahoma elevators contribute a targeted amount of 0.1% of the value of all harvest grain handled through their elevators for three harvest years, 1997 harvest through the 1999 harvest. Several Oklahoma elevators have pledged support on the voluntary 0.1% of the value of harvest grain handled. As of Augusst 1, 1999, designated funds and pledges of approximately $320,000 had been received. Based on the $0.50/$1.00 match, from DASNR/OAES, the private combined match total is about $480,000-- 100% of the required CSREES match.

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Additional Funding Needed
The original proposal listed minimal funding for basic facility and instrumentation in the $960,000 budget ($480,000 USDA,
$480,000 matching). Since the grant was proposed, in 1993-94, equipment and building costs have increased significantly. Industry meetings indicate the need for additional R&D facilities for regulatory compliance, grain management and safety training research and education. Additional instrumentation is needed to provide cutting edge "hands-on" training, research and development capabilities. Based on preliminary architecture construction estimates, the initial funding of $960,000 will be at least sufficient to cover all planned SPREC facilities and research goals/objectives listed above.