Improving seed conditioning

Content: 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