GRAIN 360

What is GRAIN 360^TM?

The Grain Research and Ingredient Nexus (GRAIN 360^TM) is an initiative aimed at providing a curated collection of resources and data tools for cereal grains, oilseeds, pseudo-cereals, and pulses.  It is intended to provide publicly-available information from farm to end use, including storage, handling, drying, preservation, and processing, as well as support comprehensive understanding of global and U.S. grain markets and conditions. It highlights key external reports and datasets, such as drought monitoring, USDA grain production and price data, and industry magazines relevant to grain supply, demand, quality, and trade, as well as comprehensive Extension and outreach publications. GRAIN 360^TM serves as a centralized hub linking authoritative sources of grain statistics, market reports, and industry publications. 

Key Reports

• U.S. Drought Monitor
• USDA Grain Crushings and Co-Products Production
• USDA National Grain Reports
• USDA State Grain Reports
• USDA Global Grain Production
• USDA WASDE Report
• USDA ERS Feed Grain Database
• USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service
• USDA Economic Research Service - Corn and Other Feed Grains
• U.S. Grains and Bioproducts Council FOB Price Charts
• U.S. Wheat Associates Price Report

Magazines & Newsletters

• GEAPS News
• In-Grain Newsletter (GEAPS)
• InGrained Newsletter (Cereals and Grains Association)
• Grain Journal
• Processing Journal
• Milling Journal
• Seed Today
• Milling and Grain
• Feed & Grain
• Feed Strategy
• Grain Feed & Milling Magazine
• Pulse Canada
• World Grain

Training Programs, Conferences, & Events

• Cereal & Grain Sciences Events Calendar
• Kansas State University IGP Institute
• University of Illinois Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory Short Courses
• University of Illinois Corn Milling Workshops
• Northern Crops Institute Courses
• North American Millers Association
• KnowMycotoxins Videos
• Lallemand Alcohol School
• Lallemand Biofuels Academy
• GEAPS Online Learning

Mycotoxins

• FDA Guidance on Mycotoxins
• Mycotoxins in Feeds: CVMs Perspective
• Mycotoxins in Corn Distillers Grains A concern in ruminants?
• Mycotoxin Contamination in the EU Feed Supply Chain: A Focus on Cereal Byproducts
• Fumonisins in Conventional and Transgenic, Insect-Resistant Maize Intended for Fuel Ethanol Production: Implications for Fermentation Efficiency and DDGS Co-Product Quality
• Survey of Mycotoxins in Corn Distillers’ Dried Grains with Solubles from Seventy-Eight Ethanol Plants in Twelve States in the U.S. in 2011
• A Three-Year Survey on the Worldwide Occurrence of Mycotoxins in Feedstuffs and Feed

Corn Dry Grind Ethanol

Processing

• Tracking Ethanol Profitability
• How Fuel Ethanol is Made from Corn
• Corn for Biofuel Production
• Ethanol Fuel Basics
• Sourcing Corn for Ethanol: Impacts of Local Processing
• Extracting More from Each Bushel: Corn in Fuel & Feed Use
• Corn Ethanol Expansion and the Evolution of US Crop Patterns
• Ethanol Expansion in the United States: How Will the Agricultural Sector Adjust?
• The South Dakota Fuel Ethanol Industry
• Iowa Corn Promotion Board (website)
• Renewable Fuels Association (website)
• United States Ethanol Biorefinery Locations (Renewable Fuels Association)

Products

• Fuel Ethanol Coproducts for Livestock Diets
• Ethanol Coproducts for Ruminant Livestock Diets
• Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) – An Effective and Available Livestock and Poultry Feed Ingredient
• Best Practices for Handling & Storing Wet Distillers Coproducts
• Evaluation of Analytical Methods for Analysis of Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles
• Use of By-products in Growing Dairy Heifer Diets
• Distillers Grains for Dairy Cattle
• Economics of Feeding Distillers Grains to Diary Cows
• Feeding Soy Hulls and Dried Distillers Grain with Solubles to Sheep
• Using DDGS in Mixed Lamb Diets
• Use of Distillers Dried Grains With Solubles (DDGS) in Swine Diets
• Ensiling Wet Distillers Grains with Other Feeds
• Wet vs. Dry
• Feed ingredient Co-Products of ethanol Fermentation from Corn
• Pros and Cons of Feeding Corn Gluten Feed and Distillers Grains
• NUTRITIONAL COMPOSITION OF FEEDSTUFFS FOR BEEF CATTLE
• Energy Sources for Swine Diets Cereal Grains and Co-Products
• All By-Products, Sorted by Company
• Effects of Adding Corn Dried Distiller Grains with Solubles (DDGS) to the Dairy Cow Diet and Effects of Bedding in Dairy Cow Slurry on Fugitive Methane Emissions
• Effect of Corn Dried Distiller Grains with Solubles (DDGS) in Dairy Cow Diets on Manure Bioenergy Production Potential
  Protein Structures among Bio-Ethanol Co-Products and Its Relationships with Ruminal and Intestinal Availability of Protein in Dairy Cattle
• Formulation of Broiler Chicken Feeds Using Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles
• Avoiding Negative Effects of High Dietary Sulfur (IBCR 200F)
• Distillers Grains for Beef Cows (IBCR 200D)
• Factors Affecting the Economics of Coproducts in Cattle Rations (IBCR 200C)
• Handling and Storage Considerations (IBCR 200E)
• The Process and Products (IBCR 200A)
• The Changing Distillers Grains for Feedlot Cattle (IBCR 200B)
• Biofuels Coproducts in Animal Feeds (University of Minnesota)
• Corn Coproduct Feeding Manuals (Nebraska Corn Board and University of Nebraska–Lincoln)
• Directory of Coproducts, Prices, and Values (University of Missouri Extension)
• Distillers Grains Supplementation Study Factsheet (IBC 08-01
• Using Distillers Grains in Alternative Cow-calf Production Systems (IBC 43)
• Distillers & Biorefinery Products Table (Distillers Grain Technology Council)
• Byproduct Feed Prices (University of Missouri website)
• Corn Coproduct Value Calculator for Finishing Cattle (excel)
• Feedlot Cattle Phosphorous and Nitrogen Excretion Calculator (excel)
• Sulfur Calculator in Total Diet (excel)
• DDGS Handbook (US Grains and Bioproducts Council)
• Composition of corn dry-grind ethanol by-products: DDGS, wet cake, and thin stillage
• Storing Wet and Modified Distillers Grains

Beverage & Industrial Alcohol

Processing

• Distillery Efficiency Best Practices
• Sustainability Snapshots
• Energy Efficiency and Cost Saving Opportunities for Distilleries
• Buildings Energy Efficiency Calculator(BEEC)
• Manufacturing Energy Assessment Software for Utility Reduction (MEASUR) from Department of Energy
• Marketing Your Sustainable Practices
• Distillery Requirements Under FSMA

Products

• What Are Distilling By-Products?
• Feeding Distillery Stillage to Beef Cattle
• Distillers Grain Coproducts for Beef Cattle
• James B. Beam Institute collaborates on spent grains solutions
• Distillery Stillage: Characteristics, Treatment, and Valorization
• Distilleries finding “bourbon shrooms” profitable for spent grains
• Processing of Distillery Stillage to Recover Phenolic Compounds with Ultrasound-Assisted and Microwave-Assisted Extractions
• Enzymatic Activity of Soil after Applications Distillery Stillage

Corn Wet Milling

Processing

• Wet Corn Milling Energy Guide
• Ethanol Production - Dry versus Wet Grind Processing
• Wet Milling of Corn-A Review of Laboratory-Scale and Pilot Plant-Scale Procedures
• A 100-g Laboratory Corn Wet-Milling Procedure
• Characterization and Comparison of Wet Milling Fractions of Export Commodity Corn Originating from Different International Geographical Locations

Products

• Wet vs. Dry
• Corn Wet Milled Feed Products
• Feed ingredient Co-Products of Ethanol Fermentation from Corn
• By-Product Feeds -- Wet Corn Milling
• NUTRITIONAL COMPOSITION OF FEEDSTUFFS FOR BEEF CATTLE
• Energy Sources for Swine Diets Cereal Grains and Co-Products
• Prospects of Maize (Corn) Wet Milling By-Products as a Source of Functional Food Ingredients and Nutraceuticals
• Corn Gluten Feed: Composition and Feeding Value for Beef and Dairy Cattle 
• Corn Gluten Feed: Composition, Storage, Handling, Feeding and Value
• Corn Gluten Feed
• Corn Gluten Feed for Beef Cattle
• Feedstuffs for Beef Cattle
• Corn Gluten Feed in Beef Cattle Diets
• Corn Processing Method in Finishing Diets Containing Wet Corn Gluten Feed
• Alternative Feeds for Ruminants
• Corn gluten meal needs a name change. Where’s the gluten?
• Pros and Cons of Feeding Corn Gluten Feed and Distillers Grains
• Solvent-Extracted Germ Meal for Receiving Calves
• Rumen Escape Protein of some Dairy Feedstuffs
• Cornmeal and Corn Gluten Meal Applications in Gardens and Landscapes
• How to Use Corn Gluten Meal as Herbicide in the Lawn and Garden
• Corn Gluten for Crabgrass Control
• All By-Products, Sorted by Company

Corn Dry Milling

Processing

• Corn Dry-Milling: Effects of First-Temper Moisture, Screen Perforation, and Rotor Speed on Beall Degerminator Throughout and Products

Products

• Effects of increasing hominy feed in diets on finishing pig performance
• NUTRITIONAL COMPOSITION OF FEEDSTUFFS FOR BEEF CATTLE
• Energy Sources for Swine Diets Cereal Grains and Co-Products
• All By-Products, Sorted by Company

Soy Processing

Processing

• Soybean Processing Basics: Operations
• Best Practices for Roasting Soybeans on Farm for Dairy Diets
• Soybeans for Dairy: Heat Treatment and Antinutritional Factors
• Soybean Crush Expansion, 2025 Update
• Soybean Processing Growth is Crushing it
• Soybean Processing 
• Soy Processing 101
• Soybean Processing
• Current Agronomic Practices, Harvest & Post-Harvest Processing of Soybeans (Glycine max)—A Review

Products

• Soybean Processing Basics: Products
• Nutritional Composition
• Metabolize Energy
• Amino Acids
• Quality Control
• Antinutritional Factors
• Under-Over Processing
• Full-Fat Soybeans
• Protein Evaluation of Treated Soybean Meal Products
• Protein Sources for Swine Diets
• Comparing Soybean Meal to Distillers Grains for Finishing Cattle
• Soybean Meal - They're Not All the Same
• Feeding Whole Soybeans and Drought- or Frost-Damaged Soybeans to Beef Cattle
• Evaluating Feedstuffs on Nutrient Cost-Comparison Basis
• Soybean Seed Protein Concentration: Current Status and Way Forward
• Soybean Seed Composition: Changes in Protein and Amino Acids Over Four Decades
• High oleic soybeans—still worth considering?
• Soybean Hull Pellets as an Inexpensive Alternative
• Soybean Hulls May be Good Replacement Feed for Goats

Flour Milling

Processing

• Wheat Tempering: Mixer Alternatives
• Innovations in Wheat Cleaning: Improving Process Efficiencies
• Wheat Middlings: Composition, Feeding Value, and Storage Guidelines

Products

• Turning N.C. Wheat into Flour
• Meet the Flours – Wheat Flours
• Beyond the standard flour
• What You Need to Know About Flour; Hint, It's Not All the Same
• Choose the Right Flour for the Job
• Choose the Right Flour When Baking
• What’s the Difference??? Whole Grains vs. Enriched Grains
• Bakery Organic Wheat Flour Quality and Quantity Requirements
• Using and Storing All-Purpose Flour
• Important Food Safety Information for Flour
• Prevent raw flour from being a recipe for disaster in your kitchen
• Understanding Wheat Quality — What Bakers and Millers Need, and What Farmers Can Do
• Enjoy Yeast Breads Both Plain and Fancy
• High Elevation Food Preparation Guide
• Gluten-Free Baking
• Alternative Wheat Flours
• How to Make a Safe, Ready-to-Eat Cookie Dough
• MF2560 Healthful Whole Grains, Fact Sheet
• MF3227 Gluten and Your Gut's Good Health, Leader's Guide
• Tatanka Hard Red Winter Wheat

Aquafeed Processing

Processing

• Preparing Your Own Fish Feeds (UF Circular 97)
• Fish Feed Production: Pellet Mill vs. Extrusion
• Extrusion production of aquatic feeds
• Extension manual on quality low-cost fish feed formulation and production
• Processing of Feedstuffs and Aquafeeds
• Commercial Aquaculture Feed Production (Floating Feeds)
• Aquatic feed manufacturing, part 1
• Aquatic feed manufacturing, part 2
• Aquatic feed manufacturing, part 3
• Fish Feed Production: Pellet Mill vs. Extrusion (North Carolina State Extension)
• Understanding Fish Nutrition, Feeds, and Feeding (Virginia Cooperative Extension)

Products

• The Future of Aquafeeds
• Understanding Fish Feed Labels
• Standard Operating Procedures - Feeding Practices for Recirculating Aquaculture
• Understanding Fish Nutrition, Feeds, and Feeding
• Principles of Fish Nutrition (SRAC 5003)
• Fish Nutrition (UF Fact Sheet VM-114)
• Optimizing Nutrient Utilization and Reducing Waste through Diet Composition and Feeding Strategies (SRAC 6003)
• Interpreting a Fish Food Package Label (UF Fact Sheet FA-159)
• The Benefits of Fish Meal in Aquaculture Diets (UF Fact Sheet FA-122)
• The Concept of Ideal Protein in Formulation of Aquaculture Feeds (UF Fact Sheet FA-144)
• What Are Nutrient-Dense Fish Feeds and Their Importance to Aquaculture (UF Fact Sheet FA-145)
• Mycotoxins in Aquaculture Feeds (SRAC 5002)
• Growing Missouri’s Aquaculture Industry: Needs Assessment
• Alternative feed ingredients support continued aquaculture expansion
• The nine most promising protein-rich aquafeed ingredients
• 5 Things to Know About Aquafeeds

Pet Food Processing

Processing

• Pet Food Registration and Labeling
• OSU Center for Pet and Animal Food Palatability Studies

Products

• Food Safety Dangers of Raw Pet Food
• Pet food safety
• Pet Foods: How to Read Labels
• A Consumer's Guide: Overview of Pet Food Labels
• Pet treats and chews
• Animal feed and pet food or treat products
• Pet food and treat trends
• What do I need to know to sell PET FOODS or PET TREATS at the farmers market?

Livestock & Poultry Feed Manufacturing

Introduction to Quality Feed Manufacturing

• Instructions and Introduction
• General Feed Mill Evaluation Form

Ingredient Receiving and Sampling

• Guideline
• Key Concepts
• Evaluation form
• Visual aids
  • Feed Manufacturing Flow Diagram
  • Ingredient Receiving Checklist
  • Example analytical schedule
  • Sampling from bags and barrels
  • Bulk sampling
  • Riffle dividing
  • Moisture analysis at receiving
  • NIRS analysis
  • Example aflatoxin analysis
  • Example DON analysis
  • Example Fumonisin

Particle Size Reduction

• Guideline
• Key Concepts
• Hammermills and Roller mills
• Evaluation form
• Visual aids
  • Particle size analysis (13-sieve)
  • Particle size analysis (3-sieve)

Batching and Mixing

• Guideline
• Key Concepts
• Evaluation form
• Visual aids
  • Mixer uniformity analysis
  • Scale verification form
  • Micro bin log form
  • Hand-add scale check
  • Medication log form

Pelleting

• Guideline
• Key Concepts
• Evaluation form
• Visual aids
  • Pellet durability analysis (tumble box; standard and modified)
  • Pellet durability
  • Pelleting data form

Finished Feed

• Guideline
• Key Concepts
• Evaluation form
• Visual aids
  • Example Finished Feed Sample Storage
  • Finished Feed Truck Log Form
  • Truck sequencing

Feed Mill Biosecurity

• Guideline
• Key Concepts
• Evaluation form
• Visual aids
  • Visitor Responsibility Sign
  • Ingredient Driver Responsibility Sign
  • Finished Feed Driver Responsibility Sign
  • No Walk Sign
  • Shoe Coverings Sign
  • Receiving Pit Check Sign
  • Visitor Log Form

Grain Drying, Aeration, and Storage Management

• Managing stored grain to minimize storage losses (University of Minnesota Extension)
• Managing stored grain with aeration (University of Minnesota Extension)
• Storing, drying and handling wet soybeans (University of Minnesota Extension)
• Storing wheat and barley (University of Minnesota Extension)
• Managing grain for year-round storage (Purdue Extension)
• Managing Dry Grain in Storage (Purdue Extension)
• Dryeration & Bin Cooling Systems for Grain (Purdue Extension)
• Temporary Grain Storage Considerations (Purdue Extension)
• Grain Quality Fact Sheet #15: Tips to Optimize Grain Dryer Performance (Purdue Extension)
• Aeration and Cooling of Stored Grain (Oklahoma State University Extension)
• Aeration Management: Knowing When to Run Aeration Fans (Oklahoma State University Extension)
• Types of Aeration Systems: Which Type is Right for You? (Oklahoma State University Extension)
• Storing Moist Wheat at Commercial Elevators in Oklahoma (Oklahoma State University Extension)
• Preparing Grain Bins and Flat Storages Prior to Harvest or Incoming Product Storage (Oklahoma State University Extension)
• Corn Storage and Drying (South Dakota State University Extension)
• Fall Grain Storage Tips (South Dakota State University Extension)
• Wet Corn: Storage and Late Harvest Options (South Dakota State University Extension)
• Check Your Bins This Spring (South Dakota State University Extension)
• Stored Grains and Flooding (South Dakota State University Extension)
• Salvaging Feed Grain from Damaged Storage Structures (South Dakota State University Extension)
• Safe Grain Handling and Storage (Penn State Extension)
• Cleaning and Storage of Oilseed (Penn State Extension)
• Grain Management (University of Missouri Extension)
• On-Farm Grain Storage and Drying Considerations (University of Missouri Extension)
• Grain storage: A systematic approach (University of Missouri Extension)
• Considerations for bagged storage (University of Missouri Extension)
• Grain Drying and Storage (UW-Madison Extension)
• Batch Grain Dryers (UW-Madison Extension)
• Continuous Flow Grain Dryers (UW-Madison Extension)
• Combination Drying (UW-Madison Extension)
• Energy Conservation for Continuous Flow Dryers (UW-Madison Extension)
• Tips for Handling, Drying, and Storing Damaged Grain (Iowa State University Extension and Outreach)
• Stored grain: cool it, core it, check it (Iowa State University Extension and Outreach)
• Options for Fall Grain Drying and Marketing (Iowa State University Extension and Outreach)
• Grain Harvesting and Handling (GH2) System Sizing Tool (Iowa State University Extension and Outreach)
• Low-Cost Energy Conservation: Grain Drying (University of Wisconsin Extension)

Storage Economics, Marketing, and Decision Tools

• Economics of On-Farm Storage (Kansas State University Research and Extension)
• Grain Storage Alternatives: An Economic Comparison (Iowa State University Extension and Outreach)
• Understanding Corn Moisture Content, Shrinkage and Drying (South Dakota State University Extension)
• Corn Grain Moisture Discount: Why and How Much? (South Dakota State University Extension)
• Getting Started with Organic Grain Markets (Penn State Extension)
• Late planting, wet harvest require special storage attention (University of Missouri Extension)

Stored-Product Insects and Pest Management

• Stored Product Protection (Kansas State University Research and Extension)
• Stored Products Pest Control (Kansas State University Research and Extension)
• Stored Product Pests (Purdue Extension Entomology)
• Stored Grain Insect Pest Management (Purdue Extension Entomology)
• Principal Stored Grain Insects of Indiana (Purdue Extension Entomology)
• Prevent stored grain pest issues before winter (University of Minnesota Extension)
• Foreign grain beetles (University of Minnesota Extension)
• Management to Maintain Stored Grain Quality (University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Historical Materials)
• Aeration of Stored Grain (University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Historical Materials)

Grain Safety, Dust, and Facility Risk

• Grain Dust Explosions (eXtension Ag Safety and Health)
• Safe Storage and Handling of Grain (University of Missouri Extension)
• Grain Handling Automation and Controls (Oklahoma State University Extension)
• Silo Fires (Penn State Extension)
• Assessing Biomass Processing Fire Hazards and Community Response Capabilities (Penn State Extension)
• Asthma and Agriculture (eXtension Ag Safety and Health)

Crop-Specific Grain, Oilseed, Pulse, and Specialty Storage

• Storing Oklahoma Winter Canola (Oklahoma State University Extension)
• Grain Sorghum Production Handbook (Kansas State University Research and Extension)
• Wheat Production Handbook (Kansas State University Research and Extension)
• Corn Production Handbook (Kansas State University Research and Extension)
• Harvesting and Storage of Grain Corn (Manitoba Agriculture)
• Harvesting Grain Corn in Late Fall (Manitoba Agriculture)
• Drying and Storage of Damp Grain (Manitoba Agriculture)
• Oats (Manitoba Agriculture)
• Barley (Manitoba Agriculture)
• Rye (Manitoba Agriculture)
• Triticale (Manitoba Agriculture)
• Harvesting Edible Beans in Late Fall (Manitoba Agriculture)
• Canola Encyclopedia: Storage (Canola Council of Canada)
• Spring drying tips for high-moisture canola (Canola Council of Canada)

Canadian Grain Drying/Energy Resources

• Reducing energy use in grain dryers (Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs)
• Natural Air Grain Drying (Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs)
• Grain Aeration (Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs)
• Grain Aeration PDF (Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs)
• Storage (Field Crop News / OMAFRA)
• How to dry soybeans in a bin (Field Crop News / OMAFRA)
• Natural Air Drying of Corn (Field Crop News / OMAFRA)
• Storing Wet Corn Safely (Field Crop News / OMAFRA)
• Drying and storing corn with low test weight (Field Crop News / OMAFRA)

Mexico and Spanish-Language Resources

• Selección y almacenamiento de semilla de frijol (INIFAP Zacatecas)
• Producción artesanal de semilla de maíz azul en el Estado de México (INIFAP)
• Tecnología para la producción de cultivos (INIFAP Zacatecas)
• Producción y Tecnología de Semillas (Universidad Autónoma Chapingo)
• Introducción a las prácticas agroecológicas y cultivos de especialidad (Universidad Autónoma Chapingo)