QUALITY QUEST
QUALITY QUEST
WHATEVER your market, buyers want to know what they are buying and growers need to know what they are selling. A better understanding of what is in store also helps ensure quality is preserved.
At Grain 2001 at the NAC, Warks on Nov 21 and 22 visitors have the chance to catch up on all the latest innovations and advice. To focus attention on the importance of post-harvest management. farmers weekly has joined forces with grain monitoring specialist Sinar to stage this "Quality Quest" contest.
Simply answer the questions, complete the slogan and you could be on your way to winning a super prize.
Rules
1. Competition open to all UK farmers and farm managers. 2. Complete entry form in ink and submit as indicated. 3. Closing date Nov 22, 2001. Late, incomplete, mutilated or illegible entries will be disqualified. 4. Judges will be appointed by farmers weekly and Sinar. Their decisions are final. No correspondence will be entered into.
The top prize is the £1899 Sinar DryPro in-drier moisture analyser to help fine tune drying. The two runners-up prizes are £590 GrainSpear moisture analysers for in-store checking,
HAVING an overall strategy for handling grain from field to point of sale is more important than ever. Stores must be prepared to ensure they are free from infestations and once grain is in store the motto must be "prevention is better than cure". That means ensuring grain is cooled quickly, crop is stored at the correct moisture content and temperature and insect monitoring is performed, particularly during the first two months of storage.
Correct grain handling during harvest is equally important. Avoid rough handling, which can damage the grain. Where wet crop requires drying, make sure the moisture content is known before and after drying, and avoid overheating. Ideally use a Sinar DryPro to monitor and control the drier. This ensures the viability of the seed, saves on energy costs and provides process traceability.
Sinar/Farmers Weekly "Quality Quest"
Name: …………………………………………………………………………………………
Address: ………………………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
…………………………………………………..Post code: ……………………………….
Tel:……………………………………E-mail:…………………………………………………
Arable area (ha): ……………………… Grain storage (t): …………………………..
Questions (tick correct answers)
1. What is the maximum safe temperature for storing cereal grain?
a) 15C b) 20C c) 10C
2. How many samples should be taken from a typical 200t grain bulk?
a) 1 b) 4 c) 20
3. What is the maximum safe drying temperature for wheat at 20% mc?
a) 65C b) 70C c) 80C
4. Wet grain above 19% mc must be dried to 18% within how many days?
a) 7 b) 21 c) 28
Slogan: Grain monitoring is important because: …………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Send entries to "Quality Quest", farmers weekly, Quadrant House, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5AS to arrive by Thu, Nov 22 or bring along to Sinar, stand 40a, at the Grain 2001 event, at the NAC, Stoneleigh, Warks.