Seed Corn Conditioning August
Seed Corn Workshop
Seed Science, 2115 Osborn Drive, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
Dates: August 4-6, 2026
Cost: $550
About the Workshop
The Seed Corn Conditioning Workshop is an intensive three-day professional development program that provides participants with a comprehensive understanding of modern seed corn conditioning, processing, storage, and quality assurance. Through a blend of online pre-course instruction, classroom presentations, live equipment demonstrations, and facility tours, attendees gain practical knowledge of the technologies and management practices used to produce high-quality seed corn.
Participants will follow the seed corn conditioning process from ear receiving through drying, shelling, cleaning, sizing, density separation, color sorting, seed treatment, packaging, and storage. Along the way, they will learn how equipment selection, process management, and quality control influence seed quality, operational efficiency, and overall plant performance.
Instruction is provided by faculty and staff from Iowa State University’s Seed Science Center, along with industry experts representing leading equipment manufacturers and seed companies. Live demonstrations allow participants to observe commercial-scale conditioning equipment in operation while discussing best practices with experienced professionals.
Whether you are entering the seed industry or expanding your technical expertise, this workshop provides the knowledge needed to better understand every stage of the seed corn conditioning process.
Who Should Attend?
This workshop is designed for:
- Seed corn conditioning plant managers
- Seed production and operations personnel
- Seed processing technicians
- Quality assurance and quality control professionals
- Production supervisors
- Equipment operators and maintenance personnel
- Warehouse and storage managers
- Agronomists and seed company technical staff
- Individuals new to seed corn conditioning
- Anyone seeking a practical understanding of commercial seed corn processing systems
Curriculum
Session I — Online Modules
Participants complete a series of online learning modules prior to attending the workshop, providing foundational knowledge that prepares them for classroom instruction and hands-on demonstrations.
- Seed Corn Conditioning Review: Gain an overview of the complete seed corn conditioning process, from harvest through final packaging, while introducing the objectives and sequence of commercial processing operations.
- Seed and Air Moisture Relationships: Learn how moisture content, temperature, and relative humidity interact to influence seed quality during drying, conditioning, and storage.
- Airflow and Seed Drying Concepts: Explore the principles of airflow management and drying systems used to safely reduce seed moisture while preserving germination and vigor.
- Bulk Seed Handling and Storage Equipment: Review the equipment and handling practices used to efficiently move, store, and protect seed throughout the conditioning process while minimizing mechanical damage.
- Sampling and Basic Quality Control: Understand representative sampling procedures and the role of quality control in monitoring processing performance and finished seed quality.
- Warehousing and Climate-Controlled Storage: Examine storage facility design, environmental management, and inventory practices that maintain seed quality throughout storage and distribution.
- Optional Module: Control of Seedborne and Soilborne Pathogens with Seed Treatments: An optional presentation exploring the role of seed treatments in protecting seed quality, improving seedling establishment, and managing seedborne and soilborne diseases.
Session II — Ear Corn Receiving, Drying, and Preparation
The first day focuses on the early stages of seed corn conditioning, from receiving harvested ears through drying, monitoring, shelling, and initial preparation for processing.
- Seed Corn Conditioning Review: Review the complete conditioning process and reinforce the concepts introduced during the online modules.
- Seed Conditioning Laboratory Tour: Tour the Iowa State University Seed Science Center conditioning laboratory to observe commercial and research-scale seed conditioning equipment.
- Ear Corn Receiving and Sorting Operations: Learn how harvested ear corn is received, inspected, sorted, and prepared for efficient conditioning while maintaining seed identity and quality.
- Pest Control for Seed Applications: Discuss integrated pest management strategies used to protect stored seed and conditioning facilities from insects and other storage pests.
- Ear Corn Drying Equipment and Operation: Examine drying technologies specifically designed for seed corn and learn how proper drying protects seed quality while improving storage stability.
- Dryer Monitoring and Management: Learn how operators monitor drying systems, adjust operating conditions, and optimize dryer performance for consistent seed quality.
- Ear Corn Shelling and Pre-Cleaning: Review shelling operations and the first stages of cleaning that prepare seed for sizing and additional conditioning processes.
Session III — Cleaning, Sizing, and Advanced Separation
Day two introduces the equipment and technologies used to separate, clean, and improve seed quality based on physical characteristics.
- Air-Screen Cleaning: Explore the operation of air-screen cleaners and learn how they remove foreign material and improve seed uniformity using airflow and screen selection.
- Dimensional Sizing: Understand how precision sizing equipment separates seed based on width, thickness, and size to improve planting performance and processing consistency.
- Precision Sizing Operations: Review equipment adjustments and operational practices that maximize sizing accuracy and plant efficiency.
- Processing Equipment Demonstration: Observe shelling, aspiration, cleaning, and sizing equipment in operation while discussing machine setup and performance.
- Fluidized Bed Density Separation: Learn how gravity separation removes damaged, immature, or low-density seed to improve final product quality.
- Density Separation Demonstration: Watch commercial gravity tables and destoners operate while discussing equipment calibration and practical applications.
- Optical Color Sorting: Discover how optical sorting systems use digital imaging technology to identify and remove defective seed, foreign material, and off-color kernels.
- Color Sorting Equipment Demonstration: Observe commercial optical sorting equipment in operation and compare technologies used throughout the seed industry.
Session IV — Finishing Operations, Storage, and Quality Assurance
The final day integrates conditioning operations into complete seed processing systems while emphasizing packaging, storage, and final quality assurance.
- Seed Treating Equipment and Calibration: Learn the principles of accurate seed treatment application, equipment calibration, and achieving uniform treatment coverage.
- Packaging Fundamentals: Review packaging systems, product handling, labeling, and practices that protect seed quality through distribution.
- Physiological Drying and Storage Considerations: Explore how drying methods, storage conditions, and seed physiology influence long-term seed viability and vigor.
- Packaging and Palletizing Equipment: Examine modern packaging and palletizing technologies designed to improve operational efficiency and product handling.
- Seed Size Sample Analysis: Observe methods used to evaluate seed size distributions and discuss how sizing data supports processing decisions and quality assurance.
- Seed Corn Plant Design: Review the layout and design of modern seed corn conditioning facilities, including equipment selection, process flow, and operational efficiency.
- Seed Counting and Laboratory Equipment: Learn how seed counting and laboratory technologies support inventory management, quality control, and production accuracy.
- Optical Imaging for Quality Control: Discover how advanced imaging systems are used to inspect seed quality, identify defects, and support quality assurance programs.
- Seed Testing Laboratory Tour and Course Wrap-Up: Conclude the workshop with a tour of the Iowa State University Seed Science Center seed testing laboratories, review key concepts, answer participant questions, and complete course evaluations.
Industry Partnership
The Iowa State University Seed Science Center gratefully acknowledges the support of its industry partners for providing technical expertise, instructional content, and seed conditioning equipment that enrich the learning experience. Demonstration seed corn for this workshop is generously provided by AgReliant Genetics, helping participants gain hands-on experience with commercial-quality materials and modern conditioning technologies.
Workshop Instructors
Alan Gaul
Iowa State University Seed Science Center
Alan Gaul is the seed conditioning specialist at the Iowa State University (ISU) Seed Science Center. He is a northeast Iowa native and a graduate of the ISU Agricultural Engineering program. His experience includes student work with the ISU Ag Engineering grain quality program and later with the ISU Seed Science Center. Subsequent work included 22 years in seed related machine development, plant design, and project management with Seed & Grain Systems and later AEC Enterprises near New Virginia, Iowa. His responsibilities at Iowa State University include coordinating extension seed conditioning workshop and laboratory programs and conducting research on seed conditioning topics. He has run the seed conditioning research and teaching program since late 2005, as well as coordinated the summer workshops for 12 seasons. He has worked extensively with multiple academic programs, including the ISU online Seed Technology and Business graduate program STB-539 course and lecture/lab sessions for courses in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (ABE), Agronomy, Plant Pathology, and Horticulture.
Jon Popp
Popp Engineering
Jon Popp is the founder of Popp Engineering, the seed industry’s largest independent engineering and consulting firm dedicated exclusively to seed production and conditioning facilities. Since founding the company in 1995, Jon has helped seed companies around the world design, optimize, and modernize processing plants through innovative engineering solutions and decades of practical industry experience.
Recognized as one of the seed industry’s foremost experts in seed conditioning and plant design, Jon has worked with organizations across the globe to improve operational efficiency, product quality, and facility performance. His leadership has established Popp Engineering as a trusted partner for engineering, process optimization, and equipment integration throughout the global seed sector.
In recognition of his lifelong contributions to the seed industry, Jon recently received a Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring his decades of innovation, leadership, and commitment to advancing seed conditioning technology and the success of the global seed industry.
Calli Sandahl
Iowa State University Seed Laboratory
Calli Sandahl serves as the event coordinator for all Seed Laboratory events. Have questions about your registration, meals, or other event needs? Contact her directly at msandahl@iastate.edu.
Participant Information
Location
The workshop will start each morning at the Seed Science Center on Iowa State University’s Campus
2115 Osborn Drive
Ames, IA
50011
Schedule
Each workshop is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Check-In is from 7:45 to 8:00 a.m. on the first day of workshop. Lunch and refreshments are provided each day.
What to Bring
We will provide all materials you may need for the workshop. You may want to bring a notebook and pen for note taking. If you’d like to bring your own seeds to work with on specific machinery, please connect with Alan Gaul, agaul@iastate.edu.
Lodging
There are a number of hotels available throughout Ames. Find hotels in Ames on the Convention and Visitors Bureau website. We recommend the Gateway Hotel & Conference Center or the Best Western Plus University Park Inn & Suites because they are close to campus.
Parking
Participants in the workshop are not exempt from campus parking regulations.
Attendees will need to find their own way to campus and purchase parking permits ahead of the workshop. Parking permits are $5 a day and available on the Iowa State website.
Permits are for any of the staff parking lots, though Lots 41 and 79 are closest to campus (see the attached map).
To reserve a visitor's parking permit:
- Create an account through the portal and “register” your vehicle through the Parking Portal. parking.iastate.edu/visitor
- If you are driving a rental car, please email parking@iastate.edu once you’ve registered with your license plate to let them know you’re a rental car so they’re aware.
- You’re done!
You will be able to reserve your permit Tuesday morning if needed, there will not be any issues with the system recognizing your car.
Note: If you park in the wrong lot, you will be fined a $50 parking ticket. Please take care to park in the correct lot – either by the greenhouses, or the horse barn.
Visitor Permits Step-By-Step Guide
Lunch Provided
We will provide lunch for participants on each day of the workshop. A light breakfast and afternoon snacks are provided as well. If you have any dietary requirements or restrictions, please email Calli Sandahl, msandahl@iastate.edu as soon as possible to make arrangements in advance.
Weather
Weather in Iowa can be quite warm, and at times rainy. Please dress accordingly as some of the campus parking lots fill up quickly and it can be a 3-5-minute walk from the SSC.
Please wear closed-toe shoes for tours.
In case of inclement weather, the workshop will be delayed or cancelled only if classes on the Iowa State University campus are delayed or cancelled. Please check your email for any notices from staff.
Questions?
Please contact Alan Gaul, Lead Presenter (agaul@iastate.edu) or Calli Sandahl, Event Coordinator (msandahl@iastate.edu)
Sponsors
Seed Science Center
Seed Laboratory
Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach