The purpose of the USDA Sustainable Agricultural Research and Education (SARE) project at Oklahoma State University (OSU) was to develop and demonstrate sustainable management practices in the U.S. grain industry. The objectives in the project plan were ambitious.  A severe drought cut the 2003 harvest in Oklahoma and Texas, limiting harvested grain by 40-50% in much of the region. Thus, virtually all grains selected cooperator sites, three farms and three elevators in Oklahoma and Texas was marketed early in the fall, so no grain was stored.

    However, some demonstration models were completed such as: (1) bin sealing technology in farm and commercial grain storages; (2) the design and installation of closed loop fumigation (CLF) in farm bins; (3) the development of new aeration technology combined with closed loop fumigation (CLF) in old country elevators with non-aerated concrete silos; (4) the development of electronic bin boards and electronic grain marketing model; the development of a USDA SARE Website at OSU

    In addition to project activities that were part of the objectives of the SARE project, additional technologies were incorporated in an added section entitled Related Technology. The topics listed under this section includes power point presentations on: (1) Closed Loop Fumigation; (2) A study of unsealed Vs sealed concrete silos comparing alternative dosage placement; (3) Grain storage sealing Technology; (4) A model for selecting pellets Vs tablets for commercial storage fumigation.