Dirk E Maier

Professor of Grain and Feed Operations and Processing; Director, Consortium for Innovation in Post-Harvest Loss and Food Waste Reduction

[Dirk E Maier @qualitygrainISU]

Slip forming of the feed mill tower of the @IowaStateU @KentFeeds Feed Mill & Grain Science Complex started early this morning... 4 feet in the forms and started jacking at 9:30a...

[Dirk E Maier @qualitygrainISU]

Exciting news... site preparation for the new Feed Mill and Grain Science Complex at Iowa State University has started!!! First up is preparing the ground for the foundations of the four 40k bu @SukupMfg bins. @IA_GQI @ISU_ABE @iastate_cals

[Dirk E Maier @qualitygrainISU]

Hands-on training sessions are an important component of the Advanced Grain Operations Management short course underway in partnership with @GrainAndFeed of Illinois.

[Dirk E Maier @qualitygrainISU]

We are thrilled to partner with @GrainAndFeed of Illinois in offering the AGEOM course. Participants have been engaged and are great to work with. @IA_GQI @ISU_ABE

[Grain and Feed Association of IL @GrainAndFeed]

The Advanced Grain Elevator Operations Management Course is officially underway! Looking forward to our week collaborating with @IowaStateU Dept of Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering for this event!

[Dirk E Maier @qualitygrainISU]

Strong finish to our @USGC sponsored train-the-trainer course of Tunisian animal & feed industry professionals. @AuburnU colleagues held a Q&A panel conversation that was a big hit. Our tri-lingual (French, Arabic, English) trainees pulled out the stops during teach-back session.

[Dirk E Maier @qualitygrainISU]

Our @USGC sponsored training program continues @AuburnU with hands-on training provided by colleagues from @bsen_au in the state-of-the-art National Poultry Technology Center. Thank you Dr Jesse Campbell and @ISU_ABE alumn Dr. Jeremiah Davis for an outstanding training session!

[Dirk E Maier @qualitygrainISU]

Great kick off this week for @USGC sponsored Tunisia Train-the-Trainer poultry nutrition & feed manufacturing program w Dr Wilmer Pacheco from Dept of Poultry Science @AuburnU Focus is on advanced nutrition and #feedtechnology concepts. Working w @ISU_ABE colleague Sam Cook.

[Dirk E Maier @qualitygrainISU]

Hands-on training at new @USGC sponsored MEA Training Center for Feed Manufacturing in Tunisia includes sessions on quality measurement of grains & feed ingredients using state-of-the-art NIR, formulating, batching and processing of feeds into mash & pellets. #feedtechnology

[Dirk E Maier @qualitygrainISU]

Congratulations to 4th group of 50 industry professionals completing feed manufacturing & animal nutrition course sponsored by @USGC in new Middle East & Africa Training Center for Feed Manufacturing at INAT, Tunisia. Course consists of online & six weekend onsite sessions.

[Dirk E Maier @qualitygrainISU]

@eyderp While I very much enjoy mangoes & have been in Kenya during mango season, other side of story is sad fact that ~40% of mango harvest goes to waste & farmers get paid lowest prices. Have no $$$ to cool & store. Many efforts underway to mitigate #postharvestloss but more is needed!

[Dirk E Maier @qualitygrainISU]

Participants of the @IA_GQI & @AgribusinessIA Advanced Grain Elevator Operations Management course practicing hands-on what they are learning in the classroom - from grain quality management to handling equipment. Advanced knowledge & skills => improved practices & bottom line!

[Dirk E Maier @qualitygrainISU]

Day of departure came faster than we wanted! Waiting for our flight home. We look back grateful for the time we were able to spend in Ghana & especially Ullo. Relationships were deepened. Friendships were renewed. Excited to know just a few months until the next team returns!

[Dirk E Maier @qualitygrainISU]

At the "Door of No Return" at Cape Coast Castle, or rather Dungeon as our guide pointed out, through which hundreds of thousands of enslaved African men & women were forcefully & under the most horrific conditions incarcerated & shipped to the Americas for almost 400 years.

[Dirk E Maier @qualitygrainISU]

Were honored to be invited & received by Regional Minister Dr Hafiz Bin Salih, governor of the Upper West Region of Ghana. He heard about our @EWBISU water & clinic projects in the Ullo traditional area. He commended our students & presented each of us a traditional smock. WOW!!!

[Dirk E Maier @qualitygrainISU]

Community mtgs across the Ullo traditional area continued today w members of Ghana @SelfHelpIntl team, Benjamin & Victoria, identifying key needs & challenges. Active participation & open dialogue was most revealing and informative! Access to water, credit, markets top the list.

[Dirk E Maier @qualitygrainISU]

Impressive mtgs w 2 communities in Ullo traditional area - among poorest in the world. Came to meet w @EWBISU travel team members & in-country staff of @SelfHelpIntl an Iowa-based NGO assessing community needs to improve ag practices, nutrition, entrepreneurship, micro financing

[Dirk E Maier @qualitygrainISU]

Productive mtg w headmaster & admin team of Ullo Senior High School. They expressed sincere appreciation for the contributions made by our @EWBISU students! I couldn't be prouder of our travel team & all chapter members past & present for their remarkable commitment & passion!!!

[Dirk E Maier @qualitygrainISU]

Mtg w chiefs & elders of Ullo traditional area confirmed site selection for new community clinic based on assessment work our @EWBISU travel team conducted for five potential sites & prepared for all year incl visiting clinics, polyclinics & hospitals since arrival in Ghana.

[Dirk E Maier @qualitygrainISU]

Added a couple new @EWBISU Cyclones to the family... Prof Bruce and his wife who hosted us at their home for a new year's celebration. Prof Bruce is a highly regarded geologist at U of Ghana as well as a divisional chief of the Ullo traditional area in Upper West region of Ghana.

[Dirk E Maier @qualitygrainISU]

Members of the Ullo Water Community reviewing maps of the school grounds & greater community re future water distribution needs that @EWBISU may be able to assist with. Community engagement, needs identification & assessment are key before considering a new partnership project!