The Northern Crops Institute on the NDSU campus announced a series of short courses. The institute supports regional agriculture and value-added processing by conducting educational and technical programs that expand and maintain domestic and international markets for northern-grown crops. The short courses include:
Pasta Production and Technology, April 16-18
The course provides fundamental and applied aspects of manufacturing extruded and sheeted pasta products. Raw material quality criteria, specifications, and processing variables and their impact on final pasta product quality are presented in detail. Lectures are supplemented with pilot-scale processing of traditional extruded pasta products. Quality tests employed in the evaluation of raw materials and finished products also are demonstrated. Participants will conduct hands-on pilot-scale pasta processing. Registration is $900 with an April 1 deadline.
Advanced Grain Procurement Strategies, May 6-10
The course is designed to address risk management tools and marketing strategies that assist buyers in competing in the international grain business. Participants will learn advanced techniques in commodity merchandising through lectures by authorities on futures market theory led by William Wilson, NDSU University Distinguished Professor of agribusiness and applied economics and an expert in commodity futures trading, and interaction with U.S. grain merchandisers who have years of practical experience in the international grain business. Registration is $1,100 with an April 22 deadline.
Durum Wheat Milling, May 21-24
The course will familiarize participants with durum wheat and provide a technical overview of durum milling. Differences between bread wheat and durum wheat milling and similarities between farina and semolina production are emphasized. Subject matter meets the needs of newcomers to the durum industry as well as those with years of other types of milling experience. The intent is to increase the miller’s insight into milling performance and semolina quality. The course is co-sponsored by Northern Crops Institute and the International Grains Program. Registration is $850 with a May 6 deadline.
Rheology of Wheat and Flour Quality, June 11-13
The course will focus on wheat quality and how to analyze, interpret and apply rheological results effectively. It covers all aspects of wheat quality from kernel quality, milling, rheology analysis and baking evaluation. Participants will gain extensive hands-on experience on each rheological instrument. The course is recommended for quality control/assurance and research and development personnel. Registration is $750 with a May 28 deadline.
Grain Procurement Management for Importers, Sept. 16-25
This eight-day course focuses on the mechanics of grain merchandising and is designed to educate individuals who are responsible for purchasing grain. Academic and commodity trade authorities will lecture on cash and futures markets. Grain merchandisers will guide attendees through the full complexity of the international grain markets. Seminars will be presented by grain merchandisers at the Minneapolis Grain Exchange. Participants will receive a CD containing an outline of each presentation and other printed materials for future reference. The class also has on-site visits to a country elevator, an export grain terminal and a barge facility. Registration is $1,400 with an Aug. 26 deadline.
For more information and to register, visit www.northern-crops.com/education/education.htm.
NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.