MODEL AND FIELD DATA FOR ESTABLISHING NEW GRAIN PACKING FACTORS

The objective of this cooperative research is to obtain new field and laboratory data to refine and calibrate a science-based model for determining the packing of grains within upright storage structures. Laboratory data on bulk grain compression characteristics will be obtained for wheat, corn, soybeans, grain sorghum, oats, and barley. The refined model will be incorporated into a user-friendly software tool for use by producers, elevator operators, and government officials for predicting stored grain pack factors. Field measurements of grain packing will be obtained from several states in the southeastern U.S. in partnership with collaborators at ARS, Kansas State University, and the University of Kentucky who will also make field measurements. Field data will be collected primarily for wheat, corn, and soybeans and also for grain sorghum, oats, and barley when those crops are available.