Characterization of receiving systems and operating performance of Kansas grain elevators during wheat harvest

A study of 50 Kansas grain elevators was performed during 1995-1997 to asse ss the capability of country elevators to segregate wheat. These elevators comprised a stratified random sample obtained from the Kansas Grain and Fee d Association directory, which includes 96% of the licensed grain storage f acilities in Kansas. Sample strata were based on vertical storage capacity and crop reporting district as identified by Kansas Agricultural Statistics (Topeka). The elevators' conveying equipment was measured to calculate gra in handling capacity and to identify the rate-limiting piece of equipment i n the receiving system. Scale ticket summary data from wheat han,est were s ummarized into one-hour increments and were used to summarize the quantity of gi-ain delivered relative to the capacity of the receiving system. A sto pwatch time study was performed to measure time required to perform samplin g evaluate grain quality and convey grain. Results showed that approximatel y 2.5 min were necessary to sample and evaluate wheat quality. The distribu tion of percent operating hours during harvest and percent grain delivered relative to the receiving capacity were summarized by vertical storage capa city of country elevators. Results for percent operating hours were skewed, with the greatest amount of time spent running equipment at less than or e qual to 10% of the engineering capacity. The percent grain delivered relati ve to the receiving capacity centered around 40%. These observations led to the conclusions that art opportunity exists to improve the operating effic iency of receiving systems at country elevators and that segregation is pos sible.