MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, US— The Grain Elevator and Processing Society (GEAPS) plans to offer courses covering cover facility planning, quality management, aeration and materials handling in March.

The online courses will be hosted March 9 through April 14, 2021, and registration closes March 2. Courses cost $700 for GEAPS members and $965 for non-members. Each course takes roughly 10 hours to complete.

The GEAPS 510: Grain Facilities Planning and Design I course covers the key factors and information needed to build new facilities or modernize existing structures. Lectures cover facility types and capacities, storage structures, equipment, layouts and site selection. At the end of the course, participants will lay out a simple facility. 

GEAPS 520: Grain Quality Management  covers grain quality, including storing and conditioning, aerating, drying, pest control and mycotoxin management. Participants learn about quality control, measurement methods and international grain-grading standards.

In the GEAPS 521: Aeration System Design and Fan Operational Management course learn about the purpose of grain aeration, system components and how to develop strategies for aeration system design and fan operational management. The course covers basic principles of designing and operating grain aeration systems to maintain grain quality during storage. 

The GEAPS 551: Materials Handling II covers the principles of dry bulk material flow, material properties and characteristics, components and selection of equipment and other considerations. This is the second of three courses offered on materials handling.

For more information about the courses or to register, visit the GEAPS website.