This course introduces participants to the fundamental and applied aspects of fresh, refrigerated (chilled) and frozen pasta production and quality through lectures and laboratory demonstrations. The course focuses primarily on the use of Durum wheat flour and semolina; however, much of the material covered in this course may be utilized in the production of pasta from other classes of wheat, as well as non-wheat ingredients. This course will be conducted in-person at the Northern Crops Institute.

This course provides an overview of many aspects of the soybean industry. The course will explore the quality, nutrition and utilization of soybeans in human and animal foods, and focus on soybean in a wide variety of food products. Participants will learn from soybean producers and industry experts through lectures, demonstrations, farm visits and plant tours. The course takes place in North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota.

The NCI Food Grade Soybean Procurement Course focuses on the many aspects of sourcing and purchasing high quality, identity preserved (IP) soybeans for food products, such as tofu, soymilk, miso, natto, tempeh, high protein beverages, desserts and many others. Procurement of food grade soybeans from the U.S. is significantly different from the procurement of bulk commodity soybeans. This course provides training on the important steps in the origination and contracting process.

This course introduces participants to the fundamental and applied aspects of pasta production and quality through lectures and laboratory demonstrations. Grain and ingredient quality, specifications and processing variables and their impact on final pasta product quality are presented in detail. The course focuses primarily on traditional dry durum-based pasta; however, non-traditional ingredients and fresh pasta are also covered through lectures and demonstrations.

This course covers the manufacturing of several classes of wheat produced in the U.S.A., including Hard Red Spring, Hard Red Winter, Soft Red Winter and Durum, and helps participants see how different wheats impact processing and final product quality. This course focuses on the fundamental and applied aspects of pasta production and quality through lectures and laboratory demonstrations. Grain and ingredient quality, specifications and processing variables and their impact on final pasta product quality are presented in detail.

This course focuses on the mechanics of soybean and soybean meal procurement, and is designed to educate individuals who are responsible for purchasing these agricultural commodities. Academic and commodity trading authorities lecture on cash and futures markets, and soybean merchandisers guide you through the full complexity of the international soybean and soybean meal markets. The course provides an overview of the U.S. soybean and soybean meal handling and marketing system and the risk management tools available to assists buyers in purchasing U.S. soybean and soybean meal that meets their quality needs at the best value. This course is led by William Wilson, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor, AES Agribusiness and Applied Economics and an expert in commodity futures trading and consultant to the international agricultural commodity and food processing industries.

This course will provide training to enable participants to entirely run a stone mill. Participants will receive hands-on training with the NCI stone mill, and be able to experiment with the flours they create in the bake labs.

Participants who take this course will become proficient with stone milling and add value to products.