Characterization of receiving systems and operating performance of Kansas grain elevators during wheat harvest Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • A study of 50 Kansas grain elevators was performed during 1995-1997 to assess the capability of country elevators to segregate wheat. These elevators comprised a stratified random sample obtained from the Kansas Grain and Feed Association directory, which includes 96% of the licensed grain storage facilities in Kansas. Sample strata were based on vertical storage capacity and crop reporting district as identified by Kansas Agricultural Statistics (Topeka). The elevators' conveying equipment was measured to calculate grain handling capacity and to identify the rate-limiting piece of equipment in the receiving system. Scale ticket summary data from wheat harvest were summarized into one-hour increments and were used to summarize the quantity of grain delivered relative to the capacity of the receiving system. A stopwatch time study was performed to measure time required to perform sampling, evaluate grain quality, and convey grain. Results showed that approximately 2.5 min were necessary to sample and evaluate wheat quality. The distribution of percent operating hours during harvest and percent grain delivered relative to the receiving capacity were summarized by vertical storage capacity of country elevators. Results for percent operating hours were skewed, with the greatest amount of time spent running equipment at 10% of the engineering capacity. The percent grain delivered relative to the receiving capacity centered around 40%. These observations led to the conclusions that an opportunity exists to improve the operating efficiency of receiving systems at country elevators and that segregation is possible.

published proceedings

  • Applied Engineering in Agriculture

author list (cited authors)

  • Herrman, T. J., Baker, S., & Fairchild, F. J.

complete list of authors

  • Herrman, TJ||Baker, S||Fairchild, FJ

publication date

  • January 2001