Project Number: 5430-44000-015-17
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Sep 29, 2003
End Date: Oct 01, 2007

Objective:
Determine the impact of HRW kernel size variability on laboratory and commercial mill performance. Develop a single kernel hardness reference method that can also serve as a reference method for the SKCS 4100. This will answer questions regarding hardness measurements of hard and soft white wheat, define the measurement error attributed to the SKCS 4100 when measuring hardness, and improve the SKCS calibrations.

Approach:
Blend various kernel sizes from a pure variety. Several varieties will be evaluated. The kernel size distribution will be altered by incrementally removing small kernels, incrementally removing large kernels and finally by removing incrementally small and large. The effects can be measured using data from the SKCS 4100 and experimental milling. Wheat removed in the separation process will also be measured and milled. Economic value of wheat removed as well as wheat milled will be studied. For commercial mill tests, a mill with some degree of automated flour quality data collection will be employed. A standard mill mix will be used with and without additional blending steps. Tempered wheat single kernel characteristics will be measured as the wheat is introduced into the mill. The relationship between incoming wheat uniformity and flour yield and quality will be evaluated. Crush each kernel through SKCS 4100, grind each kernel, determine the particle size distribution, and repeat for about 500 kernels. This information will be used to improve the SKCS 4100 hardness classification, particularly for white wheat.