Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

NC-213 Annual Meeting 2018 – Technical Sessions – Poster Showing – Graduate Student Poster Competition People’s Choice Award –

Business Meeting Minutes – Thursday, February 22, 2018 

(Some of these items were discussed during Dr. David A. Benfield’s “Opening Comments” on Wednesday, February 21, 2018.) 

NC-213 Administrative Support (Bill Koshar)

--Update on The Andersons Research Grant Program – Regular Competition 2017. Bill Koshar reported that eight proposals were received and that two were selected to be funded. Those two proposals are: “Wireless Sensors for Quality Monitoring and Management of Stored Grain Inventories.” - Dirk E. Maier, Iowa State University and “Role of Worker Decision Making in Effective Food Safety Modernization Act (F.S.M.A.) Implementation.” - Gretchen Mosher, Iowa State University 

Bill also reported that the Lead P.I.s of the six proposals that were not selected for funding were sent “Reviewer Comments” to aid them in future submissions. 

--Update on the 2017 Annual Progress Reports from Participating Stations. Bill Koshar reported that we have basically the same amount of Reports as last year and one Researcher is to send in three reports. The breakdown is: Objective 1: 8, Objective 2: 7, and Objective 3: 1. 

NC-213 Administrative Advisor/Coordinator-NC-213 Past Chair/Objective 3 Co-Chair (David A. Benfield and Gretchen Mosher)

--Update on the NC-213 Workplan 2018-2023 and general overview of the approval process. David A. Benfield gave the group an overview of the review process: The NCRA Director’s Spring Meeting will be held in April and our Workplan will be reviewed at that time. If it is not selected for renewal, then the Workplan Committee has until June to submit edits/changes for review at the July Meeting. David A. Benfield shared with the group that he felt that the Workplan has no major issues. Gretchen Mosher added that the she wrote the Workplan in such a way that very few to no edits should be requested. The group thanked Gretchen for all of her hard work. Sam McNeill thanked Gretchen Mosher for heading up this Workplan project. The membership at large also thanked Gretchen.

 Update on NC-213 Annual Meeting 2019 - comments from Iowa State University (Gretchen Mosher). Gretchen Mosher shared with the group that she is still working on space and venues for the meeting. Gretchen asked for a show of hands on who plans to attend. Gretchen shared that the airport preference is Des Moines, Iowa. She also shared that some venues have limited parking and she is also taking into account distance for walking from parking to venue, etc. She will have more updates soon. David A. Benfield suggested that the group consider an alternate meeting date, maybe in May, in case of questionable weather. 

NC-213 Past Chair/Objective 3 Co-Chair (Gretchen Mosher)

--Update on The Andersons Awards.

Gretchen Mosher shared with the group that the NC-213 Awards Committee selected Anton Bekkerman, Montana State University, as the recipient of the NC-213 Andersons Early-in-Career Award. This was also announced during the Wheat Quality Council Banquet on Wednesday evening.

--Discussion on the status of NC-213 Objective 2 Co-Chair Hulya Dogan who has not attended meetings, teleconferences for many years. Bill Koshar asked the group if Hulya Dogan was still with Kansas State University, because it has been many years since she has attended a meeting and we have not received any communication from her. The group thought that we could reach out to Hulya and ask if she is too busy, maybe no longer interested in serving as an Objective Co-chair, etc. Then, Sam McNeill offered to reach out to Carlos Campabadal and Subi Bhadriraju to see if one of them would like to serve. Bill also shared that there is no limit on how many Objective Co-Chairs can serve on an Objective. 

NC-213 Election for NC-213 Secretary. After much discussion, Gretchen Mosher made a Nomination to appoint Paul Armstrong, USDA, ARS, CGAHR, SPIERU, Manhattan, Kansas, as the incoming NC-213 Secretary. Chuck Hill seconded the Nomination. Paul Armstrong accepted with the understanding that the appointment is a four year commitment (NC-213 Secretary, NC-213 Vice Chair, NC-213 Chair, and NC-213 Past Chair). 

In conclusion, Sam McNeill thanked everyone for their input, hard work and participation in NC-213. Brian Adam, Oklahoma State  University, led the group in thanking Sam McNeill for this work over the past year as NC-213 Chair. 

Meeting adjourned.

Objective 1 Accomplishments

NC-213 researchers from Iowa State University worked to calibrate equipment from six near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) manufacturers for various grain and grain product analyses by the ISU Grain Quality Laboratory. The laboratory analyzed over 13,000 corn and soybean samples for 55 clients. Calibration protocols were improved so that three NIRS platforms (instrument and calibration) were equivalence to within 0.02 percentage points of the single NIRS platform used by the USDA Federal Grain Inspection Service. The use of more than one machine without a loss in consistency of measurement would encourage technology development and lower testing costs for the grain market chain.

Spectral technology research at Mississippi State University also focused on developing a multispectral fluorescence-based method, which uses two narrow bandwidth fluorescence bands for detection of aflatoxin contamination. A complementary dual-camera imaging system was developed for rapid detection of contaminated corn. This multispectral system includes two scientific grade 14-bit Pixelfly cameras and two narrow-band filters and was used to analyze corn samples from field experiments and industrial sources. The research is providing a rapid, non-destructive method for screening maize at elevators or grain collection points, identifying and diverting contaminated grain into alternative uses, thereby protecting the food supply and increasing producer profitability.

Another project studied single seed near-infrared spectroscopy as a method to measure beta-glucan, protein and oil in oat seeds. Researchers at the USDA Agricultural Research Service in Manhattan, KS scanned a total of 1728 single intact groats of six different oat varieties near infrared spectroscopy to develop non-destructive predictions of (1,3;1,4)-b-D-glucan (b-glucan), protein and oil content in groats. Prediction models for single kernels were developed using partial least squares regression. The data indicated that non-destructive screening of b-glucan, protein and oil contents in single kernels of dehulled oat grains from their near infrared spectra could be successfully used in breeding programs.

Significant outreach efforts were also involved in work related to aflatoxin testing and control. Texas A&M University researchers working with the the Aflatoxin Proficiency Testing and Control in Africa (APTECA) program (sponsored by the Office of the Texas State Chemist) hosted 4 high level breakfast meetings comprised of senior level Kenya government agency personnel from three ministries and representatives from several industry association. The high level breakfast meeting also included several members of the Kenya Parliament Agriculture Committee. As an outgrowth of these breakfast meetings, two members of Parliament visited Texas to learn about the co-regulation model used by the Office of the Texas State Chemist (OTSC) of Texas A&M AgriLife Research. A second outgrowth of the breakfast meetings was a one-week workshop in June 2017 at the Maanzoni Lodge in Machakos County Kenya to develop a regulatory roadmap highlighting overlapping authority among government agencies as well as regulatory gaps involving aflatoxin risk management. This exercise led to participants crafting a draft bill for aflatoxin risk management and outlining a national aflatoxin strategic plan. In 2017, the OTSC outreach program includes regulatory, industry and laboratory personnel in 45 countries and helps facilitate management of food safety risk on a global level. Among the outcomes of the project include improved food safety for approximately 10 million Kenyans, development of a national strategic plan and draft bill to manage aflatoxin risk in Kenya, adoption of aflatoxin testing platforms in Malawi, and 104 new qualified analysts to measure aflatoxin in Kenya and Malawi. A risk assessment was performed for Kenya to support a policy decision to raise the aflatoxin regulatory maximum level for classes of animal feed. 

Recent outbreaks related to wheat flour have provided evidence that low moisture foods should be evaluated for safety. NC-213 researchers from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln conducted numerous research projects to assess methods for overcoming these safety concerns. Assessment of reducing microbial load in wheat flour considered technology that steams wheat kernels prior to milling. Lipase, lipoxygenase, polyphenol oxidase, and peroxidase activities were decreased by up to 81%, 63%, 22%, and 34%, respectively, as the time of steaming increased up to 90 s. Steaming had no effect on starch and gluten properties. Steaming for 90 seconds reduced the total plate count in wheat by log 7 CFU/g. Upon storage free fatty acids decreased with respect to time of steaming. Time of steaming did not affect lipid oxidation in flour; however, total carbonyls produced in dough made from stored flour were decreased with the increase in steaming duration. Thus, steaming wheat kernels prior to milling reduced lipase activity and consequently hydrolytic rancidity during storage without affecting starch and gluten fractions. This treatment also dramatically reduced the microbial load in flour. The implementation of these treatments in commercial production of wheat flour will reduce the risk of food borne illness outbreaks caused by consuming raw wheat flour.

North Dakota State University research focused on flaxseed, another crop that was considered when assessing safety. The oilseed is somewhat unique because it is typically consumed raw and no kill step is involved prior to consumption; thereby, producing an elevated risk for foodborne illness. Microbial inactivation of raw commodities is one approach to minimizing potential foodborne illness. However, degradation of quality and of nutritional and health compounds can be negatively affected from any method used to inactivate microorganisms. Flaxseed treated with vacuum steam pasteurization was shown to be an effective means to inactivate microorganisms, but its implication on health-promoting compounds or general shelf stability were not previously reported. Vacuum steam pasteurization was completed on both whole flaxseed and milled flaxseed using conditions documented to inactivate microorganisms. The important omega-3 lipid was not affected by processing conditions in either whole or milled flaxseed. As such, the research provides flaxseed processors with an approach to mitigate potential foodborne hazards without negatively impacting flaxseed quality, thus helping preserve a highly valuable industry, evaluated to be worth over $70 million.

In addition to research that considers contamination of grains, NC-213 investigators continued their efforts to improve characteristics of processed grain products. In North Dakota, thirty-six genotypes were grown in 19 environments. Traits commonly assessed for selecting genotypes for traditional/semolina pasta were evaluated along with a modified mixogram procedure designed to determine mixogram break-time for whole wheat flour. Genotypes varied in their suitability to make whole-wheat pasta. Genotypes identified as the best for whole-wheat pasta were not the top genotypes for traditional pasta. In fact,12 of the 36 genotypes tested produced good quality traditional pasta but made poor quality whole-wheat pasta.  Cooked firmness was the only pasta quality factor that showed a relationship with any of the phenotypic traits evaluated. Grain protein content, mixogram break-time and gluten index did relate to cooked firmness of whole-wheat pasta. These results indicate that other traits need to be identified that can be used to help select genotypes for whole-wheat pasta.

Other researchers at North Dakota State University worked on developing an overall baking quality scoring system in order to assist in comparing and ranking HRS wheat objectively. In the baking quality evaluation of HRS wheat cultivars, the overall baking quality scores were developed to determine whether the ranking was affected by baking methods. When averaged across various baking methods and conditions, C-ND Elgin, C-SD Focus, C-ND Prosper, G-Forefront, and G-ND 817 cultivars were considered to have “fair” bread-making quality characteristics, while receiving overall quality scores less than 6. In contrast, cultivars PND 817, P-MN Bolles, G-MN Bolles, P-ND Glenn, and G-ND Glenn received overall baking quality scores of 6.5 or above hence these cultivars were considered to have “excellent” baking quality characteristics under different baking conditions. The results in the current research study indicate that although there are differences in the bread-making methods on the end-use quality evaluation, the ranking of HRS wheat flours is not affected by the baking methods and conditions. In other words, cultivars considered to have “fair” quality tend to have low bread-making quality, while “excellent” baking cultivars will have superior end-use quality regardless of the baking method and processing conditions.

Objective 2 Accomplishments

Harvest losses need to be properly managed to reduce waste and maximize profits, and producers must balance potentially increasing losses with energy savings from allowing grain to field dry. Harvest losses are a combination of pre-harvest loss and machine loss. Pre-harvest losses occur due to dropped ears, pests feeding on the grain, or other ‘invisible’ losses. Machine losses occur at all stages of combining. Researchers at University of Kentucky examined yield and harvest losses for corn in a single field four times over the course of the 2017 harvest season. Measured yield and losses displayed little variation for moisture levels from 33.9% to 19.8%, with total losses less than 1.5%. Large amounts of wind damage occurred while allowing the grain to field dry to 15%. This resulted in a 19% reduction of observed yield, and harvest losses in excess of 12%. Losses were also measured for four additional combines across the state, and total losses were found to be between 1%-3% of total yield. These results are critical to provide producers with a reference point for evaluating their own losses and incorporating this information into harvest timing.

In addition to harvest losses, storage losses can also occur. A team of researchers from the USDA ARS, University of Georgia, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Kansas State University, and the University of Kentucky considered the influence of kernel shape and size distribution on the compressibility and packing density of hard red winter wheat (HRW) using a laboratory setup similar to that used in powder testing. The kernel dimensional parameters (length, width, thickness) and bulk sample parameters (aerated bulk density, tapped bulk density, apparent density) were measured and additional derived parameters (equivalent spherical diameter, sphericity, flatness and elongation shape factors) were calculated for each size fraction and variety. Packing density and compressibility for each size fraction and of binary and ternary mixtures of the size fractions were determined for each variety. Packing density increased with larger kernel size while compressibility decreased. Sphericity and flatness shape factor had strong positive relationships with packing density and strong negative relationship with compressibility, while elongation shape factor showed the opposite effect on packing density and compressibility. The higher the percentage mass of the larger kernel fraction in a mixture, the higher was its packing density and the lower its compressibility. The two varieties did not significantly differ in packing density and compressibility. These results showed that kernel size distribution has significant effect on packing and compressibility of HRW wheat.

Maintaining appropriate moisture content is not only important for quality but also for storage management. Existing packing models do not account for changes in moisture content due to moisture changes due to airflow. Moisture changes during aeration could have a significant impact on volume measurements that are directly related to inventory measurements. Corn samples were mechanically harvested in the field and dried in a PVC cylinder with a 6” diameter to measure volume change during drying. The samples were placed in a controlled environment at 15.5C and 70% relative humidity for 72 hours. The study results indicate that the change in volume was linearly related to the moisture removal.

Research out of the University of Idaho developed and validated an analytical method to detect mycotoxins using HPLC and LC-MS is in progress. Methods to assess the toxigenic potential of collected isolates is being developed and validated. Determination of mycotoxin concentration in both grains and extracts from fungal cultures is currently being assessed using an HPLC method with UV detection. The current limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) for DON using this method are currently 50 and 100 ng/mL in standard solutions injected directly into an Agilent 1260 infinity HPLC system. LOD and LOQ in sampled grains are currently being determined, as modifications to the extraction protocol can change those values for sampled grains. Approximately 400 F. culmorum isolates have already been transferred to yeast extract sucrose agar (YES) to determine toxigenic potential. A method using agar plug extracts to quantify the amount of DON produced has been developed. Some F. culmorum isolates are also likely to be nivalenol (NIV) producers, so the incorporation of NIV standards and the development of a multi-mycotoxin method using the same HPLC-UV parameters are in progress.

Social scientists considered important interactions between producers and production and management of grains. One set of research from Montana State University used a combination of on-site experiments and market data to assess challenges and opportunities for altering production methods to increase economic and ecological sustainability in semi-arid regions, including Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, and parts of South Dakota. The work that considered the differential impacts of fertilizer have timely and relevant implications for dryland grain producers. The insights from this research directly lead to measurable impacts for producers who wish to continue producing high-quality grains but increase the long-term viability and value of their operations through improved soil health. Producers can look to their specific situation and use the paper's findings to understand how to maximize production, quality, economic returns, and environmental sustainability in response to their choice of fertilization and cropping systems.

Another line of multidisciplinary work from Montana State University continued to evaluate insect control approaches that could be used as alternatives or partial replacements for chemical treatments (IPM approaches), in addition to approaches that could make conventional approaches more efficient. This included measuring both the treatment costs as well as the costs of failing to control insects for each approach. Food processing facilities face a high cost if they fail to control insects, but a relatively low probability of incurring those costs. To assess these issues, a real options approach is used to evaluate the decisions made by food processing facilities in order to improve timing of insect control measures to potentially reduce chemical use and cost and/or to improve effectiveness.

A third avenue considered safety at grain processing facilities, which is critical to ensuring effective working environment and food quality. Grain dust explosions are a hazard to grain industry workers and the mitigation of these events requires attention to both quality and safety aspects. Training was conducted by Iowa State University researchers for workers in Indiana, Michigan, and Iowa on the prevention of grain dust explosions. The training emphasized engineering controls, properties of grain dust, and other worker-based mitigation strategies. Approximately 200 grain elevator employees were trained on prevention of grain dust explosions. These grain workers and processors now have information on daily tasks, engineering controls, and preventive operations needed to keep grain dust explosions from occurring. Additionally, a workers' compensation claims database from a major agribusiness provider was used to characterize occupational injuries in the biofuels and grain handling industries. Workers' compensation provides valuable operational insight into the safety performance of biofuel and grain handling facilities, as many facilities are too small to be subjected to OSHA inspection.

Objective 3 Accomplishments

NC-213 participants made significant efforts to establish educational programs and communicate knowledge related to grain quality issues. In Iowa, the FSMA Preventive Controls for Animal Food Safety course was taught by Iowa State University faculty and extension professionals 10 times to 352 industry participants. Participant evaluations averaged 4.75 on a 5.0 point scale. Additionally, the development of a feed technology academic minor for undergraduate students in bioprocess/food engineering, agricultural technology, animal science, food science, and agri business at Iowa State University has been offered with a courses offered in fall 2017 and spring 2018. In addition, other significant publications included the updated version of the grain drying, handling, and storage handbook (MWPS-13) was released in spring 2017. The book has been used as a supplemental text for grain handling and processing courses at the undergraduate level for many years.

Researchers from Iowa State University also moved forward an ongoing relationship with a major agribusiness insurance company. One of the primary goals of this collaboration is to solidify the mindset for grain handlers that the quality of grain and the safety of their workers are closely linked. The collaboration led to a a webinar for insurance clients, which was presented in early 2017 to address linkages between grain quality and safety. Additionally, producers and the grain industry received advance forecasts of crop quality and storability conditions for 2017.  Processors received advance estimates of product yields from both corn and soybeans. Collectively the training modules were downloaded 698 times in CY2016.  The newsletter has 3000 regular subscribers and is downloaded an average of 30,000 times per month.

In the northern Great Plains, outreach by faculty at Montana State University and the University of Idaho resulted in several presentations made to commodity clientele regarding identification of pre- and post-harvest pest species, losses these cause and best practices for safe storage and prevention of economic losses. These include training workshops for crop consultants and educational modules presented for State of Montana Commercial and Private Applicator Certification Credits. Several publications focused on the genetics or expression of host plant resistance to insect pests of cereal grains. Additionally, continued collaboration with wheat growers, from whom soil samples are collected, have also agreed to the sampling of grains from their fields. Sampling of wheat heads and collection of grains will be performed during sampling in March and June 2017. Seasonal soil sampling has already been performed during June and September 2016, and sampling is scheduled to take place in December 2016. Grain samples will be analyzed for fungal populations and mycotoxin concentration upon harvest, using plating methods for relevant fungi and HPLC-UV for mycotoxin concentrations.

Numerous blog posts and recorded podcasts by Montana State University collaborators directly address applied, measurable issues related to wheat markets in a timely and relevant fashion. Many topics discussed issues about market valuation of wheat quality in the northern Great Plains, and the impacts of weather (drought) and associated pest influences on market availability and economic outcomes of decreased quality. In 2017, the www.AgEconMT.com project and website, on which blog posts and podcasts are posted, received over 11,500 visitors. Many of these visitors are consumed information related to wheat quality and marketing issues. The project has also had a significant impact in social media, with over 124,500 individuals having seen blog posts and podcasts distributed via the Twitter platform, and 1,174 interactions with those tweets (including clicking on the link to read the article, replying and beginning a conversation about a blog post or podcast, and retweeting the topic).

Objective 1:

Licht, M., C.R. Hurburgh, M. Kots, P. Blake, and M. Hanna. 2017. Is there loss of corn dry matter in the field after maturity? 2017 Integrated Crop Management Conference Proceedings, 35-39.

Bhadra, R., K.A. Rosentrater, and K. Muthukumarappan. 2017. Modeling distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) mass flow rate as affected by drying and storage conditions. Cereal Chemistry, (4(2), 298-309.

Xing, F., Yao, H., Liu, Y., Dai, X., Brown, R. L., Bhatnagar, D. (2017). Recent Developments and Applications of Hyperspectral Imaging for Rapid Detection of Mycotoxins and Mycotoxigenic Fungi in Food Products. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2017.1363709

Hruska, Z., Yao, H., Kincaid, R., Brown, R. L., Bhatnagar, D., Cleveland, T. E. (2017). Temporal effects on internal fluorescence emissions associated with aflatoxin contamination from corn kernel cross-sections inoculated with toxigenic and atoxigenic Aspergillus flavus. Frontiers in Microbiology. V8, 1718. DOI:10.3389/fmicb.2017.01718.

Xing, F., Yao, H., Hruska, Z., Zhu, F., Kincaid, R., Brown, R., Bhatnagar, D., & Liu, Y. 2017. Detecting peanuts inoculated with toxigenic and atoxienic Aspergillus flavus strains with fluorescence hyperspectral imagery. Proceedings of SPIE, “Sensing for Agriculture and Food Quality and Safety IX”, 1021701.

Yao, H., Zhu, F., Xing, F., Hruska, Z., Liu, Y., Brown, R., Bhatnagar, D. 2017. NIR Spectroscopy Analysis of Aspergillus flavus-Inoculated Peanut Kernels. 18th International Conference on Near Infrared Spectroscopy. ICNIRS-1233. Copenhagen, Denmark. June 11 -15.

Sabillón L, Bianchini A, Stratton J, Rose DJ. 2017. Effect of saline organic acid solutions applied during wheat tempering on flour functionality. Cereal Chemistry 94:502-507.

Poudel R, Bhatta M, Regassa T, Rose DJ. 2017. Influence of foliar fungicide treatment on lipolytic enzyme activity of whole wheat. Cereal Chemistry 94:633-639

Navrotskyi S, Baenziger PS, Regassa T, Guttieri MJ, Rose DJ. Variation in asparagine concentration in Nebraska wheat. Cereal Chem. https://doi.org/10.1002/cche.10023

Deng, L., Elias, E.M., and Manthey, F.A. 2017. Relationship between grain, semolina, and whole wheat flour properties and the physical and cooking qualities of whole wheat spaghetti. Cereal Chem. 94:801-804.

Deng, L., Elias, E.M., and Manthey, F.A. 2017. Influence of durum genotype on whole wheat and traditional spaghetti qualities. Cereal Chem. 94:857-865.

Baasandorj, T. (2016). Hard red spring wheat quality evaluation with various roller mill types and breadmaking methods. PhD Dissertaion. North Dakota State University. Retrieved from https://ezproxy.lib.ndsu.nodak.edu/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/1858816358?accountid=6766

Tim Herrman and Harinder Makkar. 2016. Aflatoxin proficiency testing in labs. Feedipedia, Broadening Horizons. December #36

Quantification of betaglucans, lipid and protein contents in whole oat groats (A.sativa. L) using Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy 2017. Gracia Montilla-Bascon, Paul R Armstrong, Rongkui Han and Mark Sorrells. J. of Near Infrared Spectroscopy.  25(3) 172–179

Objective 2:

Atungulu G. G. & Olatunde G. A., Sammy Sadaka. 2017.  Impact of Rewetting and Drying of Rough Rice on Prediction of Moisture Content Profiles during On-Farm In-Bin Drying and Storage. Drying Technology. Published online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07373937.2017.1345933.

Olatunde G. A & Atungulu G. G. 2017. Potential of Turbulence Interference in Rough Rice bin Drying and Storage System Fitted with Cabling Technology. Biosystems Engineering 163(2017), 1-14. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2017.08.010.

Atungulu, G. G., and G. A. Olatunde. 2017. Assessment of New In-Bin Drying and Storage Technology for Soybean Seed. Drying Technology. Published online:  http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07373937.2017.1335751.

Deandrae L. Smith, Griffiths G. Atungulu. 2017. Impact of drying deep beds of rice with microwave set at 915 MHz frequency on the rice milling yields. Innovative Food Science and Emerging Technologies, 45 (2018) 220–227. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ifset.2017.10.009.

Olatunde G., Atungulu G., Deandrae Smith. (2017). One-pass drying of rough rice with an industrial 915 MHz microwave dryer: Quality and energy use consideration. Biosystems Engineering, 155, 33-43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2016.12.001.

Atungulu G., Thote S., and Wilson S. 2017. Dry Matter Loss for Hybrid Rough Rice Stored under Reduced Oxygen Conditions. Cereal Chemistry. 94 (3): 497-501.

Okeyo A., Olatunde G., Atungulu G., Sadaka S., McKay T. 2017. Infrared Drying Characteristics of Long-grain Hybrid, Long-grain Pureline, and Medium-grain Rice Cultivars. Cereal Chemistry. 94(3):251-261.

Shantae A. Wilson, Griffiths G. Atungulu, Gbenga Olatunde. 2017. Quality, Decontamination, and Energy Use Considerations during Radiant-Heat and Tempering Treatments of Shelled Corn. Cereal Chemistry. 94 (4): 705-711.

Wilson S.A, Okeyo A.A, Olatunde G.A, and Atungulu G.G. 2017. Radiant heat treatments for corn drying and decontamination. Journal of Food Processing and Preservation.  41(1), 2017; 00e13193. doi:10.1111/jfpp.13193.

Steve C. Ricke, Griffiths G. Atungulu, Chase E. Rainwater, Si Hong Park. 2017. Food and Feed Safety Systems and Analysis. Academic Press, Elsevier, London Wall, London EC2Y 5AS, United Kingdom.

G.G. Atungulu, Z. Mohammadi-Shad and S. Wilson. 2017. Mycotoxin Issues in Pet Food. In: Food and Feed Safety Systems and Analysis. Steve C. Ricke, Griffiths G. Atungulu, Chase E. Rainwater, Si Hong Park (eds). Academic Press, Elsevier, London Wall, London EC2Y 5AS, United Kingdom. Pg. 25-39.

Gbenga A. Olatunde and Griffiths G. Atungulu. Emerging Pet Food Drying and Storage Strategies to Maintain Safety.  In: Food and Feed Safety Systems and Analysis. Steve C. Ricke, Griffiths G. Atungulu, Chase E. Rainwater, Si Hong Park (eds). Academic Press, Elsevier, London Wall, London EC2Y 5AS, United Kingdom. Pg. 45-58.

Anne Huss, Roger Cochrane, Cassie Jones and Griffiths G. Atungulu. Physical and Chemical Methods for the Reduction of Biological Hazards in Animal Feeds In: Food and Feed Safety Systems and Analysis. Steve C. Ricke, Griffiths G. Atungulu, Chase E. Rainwater, Si Hong Park (eds). Academic Press, Elsevier, London Wall, London EC2Y 5AS, United Kingdom. Pg. 83-92.

Xuhui Zhuang, Chen Zhao, Keshun Liu, Peter M. Rubinelli, Steven C. Ricke and Griffiths G. Atungulu. Cereal Grain Fractions as Potential Sources of Prebiotics: Current Status, Opportunities, and Potential Applications In: Food and Feed Safety Systems and Analysis. Steve C. Ricke, Griffiths G. Atungulu, Chase E. Rainwater, Si Hong Park (eds). Academic Press, Elsevier, London Wall, London EC2Y 5AS, United Kingdom. Pg. 173-187.

Xiaotuo Wang, Griffiths G. Atungulu, Ragab Gebreil, Zhengjiang Gao, Zhongli Pan, Shantae A. Wilson, Gbenga Olatunde, David Slaughter. Sorting in-shell walnuts using near infrared spectroscopy for improved drying efficiency and product quality. International Agricultural and Biological Engineering Journal. 26(1), 165-172.

Ragab Khir, Griffiths Atungulu, Ding Chao, Zhongli Pan. Influences of harvester and weather conditions on field loss and milling quality of rough rice. International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering. 10(4), 216-223. DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20171004.2993.

Griffiths Atungulu. Infrared Food Processing Technology: Fundamentals and Case Studies of Recent Advances in Grain Processing. In: Alternatives to Conventional Food Processing: 2nd Edition Edited by Andrew Proctor. Green Chemistry Series No. 53. The Royal Society of Chemistry; Thomas Graham House, Science Park, Milton Road Cambridge CB4 0WF, UK. (In Press).

Griffiths Atungulu, Gbenga Olatunde, Sammy Sadaka. Rice Safety. In: Rice Engineering.  Edited by Zhongli Pan & Gabreil Ragab Khir.  Destech Publications, 439 North Duke St., Lancaster, Pennsylvania  17602. (In Press).

Griffiths Atungulu, Gbenga Olatunde, Sammy Sadaka. Rice Aeration: Fundamental and principles. In: Rice Engineering.  Edited by Zhongli Pan & Gabreil Ragab Khir.  Destech Publications, 439 North Duke St., Lancaster, Pennsylvania  17602. (In press).

Ramaswamy, S.K. and G.A. Mosher. 2017. Using workers’ compensation claims data to characterize occupational injuries in the commercial grain elevator industry. Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health, 23(3), 203-217.

Sharma, R. and C.R. Hurburgh. 2017. Bulk product traceability – challenges and opportunities. Book chapter.

Bekkerman, A. “Data-Driven Innovation: An Integrated Public-Private R&D Framework for the 21st Century.” In proceedings, Grain Elevators and Processors Society Exchange, March 2017.

Bekkerman, A., and M. Taylor. “Influence of Shuttle Loaders on Grain Markets in Kansas and Montana.” Arthur Capper Cooperative Center Fact Sheet Series, Paper #10, August 2017.

Fulbright, J., K. Wanner, A. Bekkerman, D. Weaver. Wheat Stem Sawfly Biology. Montana State University Extension, MontGuide (MT201107AG), March 2017.

John, A. A., Jones, C. A., Ewing, S. A., Sigler, W. A., Bekkerman, A., & Miller, P. R. (2017). Fallow replacement and alternative nitrogen management for reducing nitrate leaching in a semiarid region. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 108(3), 279-296.

Maxwell, B., B. Weed, L. Ippolito, A. Bekkerman, M. Boone, M. Mills-Novoa, D.Weaver, M. Burrows, and L. Burkle. “Agricultural and Climate Change in Montana.” Chapter in 2017 Montana Climate Assessment, Whitlock C., Cross W., Maxwell B., Silverman N., and Wade AA, eds. Bozeman and Missoula MT: Montana State University and University of Montana, Montana Institute on Ecosystems. September 2017.

Bhadra, R., M.E. Casada, S.A. Thompson, J.M. Boac, R.G. Maghirang, M.D. Montross, , A.P. Turner, and S.G. McNeill. 2017. Technical note: Field-observed angles of repose for stored grain in the U.S. Applied Engineering in Agriculture 33(1): 131-137.

Turner, A.P., M.D. Montross, J.J. Jackson, N.K. Koeninger, S.G. McNeill, M.E Casada, J.M. Boac, R. Bhadra, R.G. Maghirang, and S.A. Thompson 2017. Technical Note: Stored grain volume measurement using a low-density point cloud. Applied Engineering in Agriculture 33(1): 105-112.

Bhadra, R., M.E. Casada, S.A. Thompson, M.D. Montross, A.P. Turner, S.G. McNeill, R.G. Maghirang, and J.M. Boac. 2018. Stored Grain Pack Factor Measurements for Soybeans, Sorghum, Oats, Barley, and Wheat. Transaction of the ASABE. In press.

Objective 3:

Maier, D., S. McNeill, and K. Hellevang. Grain Drying, Handling, and Storage Handbook. MWPS-13, Third Edition. Midwest Plan Service, Ames, IA.

Xiao, J. C. Hart, and S.H. Lence. 2017. USDA forecasts of crop ending stocks: How well have they performed? Applied Economics Perspectives and Policy, 39, 220-241.

Hurburgh, C.R. 2016. Quality in the 2016 crop. Proceedings of the 28th Integrated Crop Management Conference, ISU Extension and Outreach, Ames, IA. November 30, 2016.