GEAPS, K-State Offer Grain Handling Courses in February

The Grain Elevator and Processing Society (GEAPS) and Kansas State University are offering five online courses on grain handling operations running from Feb. 13 through March 17, the international organization announced Jan. 3.  

Participants can complete the courses at any time over the five-week duration of the course, with each course taking about 10 hours to finish.

The courses offered through GEAPS and K-State are:

GEAPS 501: Management Basics for Grain Facility Supervisors

This course will provide an extensive overview of the main duties, responsibilities and expectations of grain operations supervisors and managers. It will cover essential duties, topics and roles supervisors and managers need to understand, and why they are important.

GEAPS 506: The Grain Industry in Canada – Climate, Crops and People

This course offers a broad and comprehensive view of Canada’s multifaceted and historic grain industry. It will be a valuable resource for anyone who does business in or with Canada, or is a major player in the global grain economy. Participants will gain a better understanding of the influence of Canada’s climate and population, marketing, regulatory regimens, grading, cleaning and drying, quality control, rail transportation, domestic use and exports.

GEAPS 521: Aeration System Design and Fan Operational Management

Participants will learn 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. 

GEAPS 530: Quality Management Systems for Bulk Materials Handling Operations

Participants will learn about quality management systems and how to use them in agricultural storage environments. This course provides strategies for integrating systems into normal business activities and teaches the skills needed to create food safety plans and develop quality management systems. After completing the course, participants should be able to do a basic quality analysis of facility operations and identify points where physical quality or economics are impacted.

GEAPS 551: Materials Handling II

Learn  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.

Two of the courses, GEAPS 501 and GEAPS 530, are two of six required courses to obtain the Credential in Grain Operations Management (CGOM) – the first formal credential in the grain industry. The credential can be augmented with Specialist Credentials in Grain Quality Management, Grain Handling Equipment Management, and Property and Casualty Risk Management.

Registration for the course is priced at $685 for GEAPS members and $895 for non-members. The deadline to sign up is Feb. 7.

For more information, visit the GEAPS website.

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