SOCR 480A3 - Seed Processes: Separation and Conditioning

Seed conditioning is a process that removes unwanted weed seeds, crop seeds and other unwanted particles from the seed lot so that the final seed lot will produce a high quality crop in the field.

The purpose of this course is to help students understand the physical processes involved so equipment can be set to perform efficient separations with minimal loss of good seed. In addition, this course will help to illustrate how to set up the seed conditioning facility so that it can be operated in an effective manner.

This course was developed for individuals who have had some very basic experience in seed conditioning. Anyone without that background may have to work a bit harder to grasp some of the ideas, and some increased communication with the instructor may be needed to understand the intricacies of the final project.

Textbooks and Materials

Textbooks and materials can be purchased at the CSU Bookstore unless otherwise indicated.

Optional

• Handbook No. 1 "Seed Processing and Handling" (1968)
  Mississippi State University Seed Technology Lab
• SOCR 480A3 Study Guide (2009)
  Jim Stanelle

Instructors

Jim Stanelle
seedguyjim@itol.com

Jim Stanelle graduated with a B.S. degree in Technical Agriculture from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 1972. For eleven years he managed a branch of a farm supply Cooperative in Wisconsin that included the operation of the company-owned seed conditioning facility. In 1984 he began attending Kansas State University to pursue a M.S. degree in Agronomy with a seed technology emphasis. The course of study also included a semester of course work at the Mississippi State University Pace Seed Technology Center.

After graduation he was employed by a major seed equipment manufacturer working in technical sales, equipment recommendations, plant set-up and start-up, and trouble-shooting. Later Jim was named as the manager of the Colorado Seed Growers Association (CSGA). That position made him the 'point-person' for seed in Colorado, in charge of seed certification, as well as having oversight over the state seed testing laboratory, the foundation seed program, the state seed dealers association as well as duties as the Colorado State University Seed Extension Specialist.