The Northern Crops Institute offers a variety of courses and webinars that unite customers, commodity traders, technical experts, and professors for discussion and education. During our courses, participants can expect to:

  • Refresh their expertise and be exposed to existing and new technology.

  • Participate in lectures, case histories, laboratory demonstrations and tours.

  • Hear from industry experts, government and university professors.

All inquires should be directed to our Program Development Manager, Casey Peterson.

Open Courses

Course Listings
Stone Milling: A Hands-On Experience (In-Person)
Apr 1
Stone Milling: A Hands-On Experience (In-Person)

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 learn how to add value to products.

Fresh, Refrigerated and Frozen Pasta Technology
Apr 22
Fresh, Refrigerated and Frozen Pasta Technology

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.

Pasta Production and Technology
Apr 22
Pasta Production and Technology

Join Northern Crops Institute (NCI) for an in-person course on Pasta Production and Technology. 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.

Soybean and Soybean Meal Procurement (In-Person)
May 12
Soybean and Soybean Meal Procurement (In-Person)

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.

Food Soy Procurement Course (In-Person)
Jun 16
Food Soy Procurement Course (In-Person)

The NCI Food Soy 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.

INTSOY: Introduction to Soybean Course
Aug 25
INTSOY: Introduction to Soybean Course

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.

Grain Procurement Management for Importers (In-Person)
Sep 8
Grain Procurement Management for Importers (In-Person)

This eight-day course focuses on the mechanics of grain merchandising, and is designed to educate individuals who are responsible for purchasing grain. Academic and commodity trade authorities lecture on cash and futures markets, and grain merchandisers guide you through the full complexity of the international grain markets. The course provides an overview of the U.S. grain handling and marketing system and the risk management tools available to assists buyers in purchasing U.S. grain that meets their quality needs at the best value.

Upcoming Course List

Additional courses are being added, so keep checking back. For more information, please email our Program Development Manager, Casey Peterson.

2025 Courses

*NOTE: Dates and formats courses will be presented in are subject to change.

Custom Courses

Along with educational courses, the Northern Crops Institute offers custom courses to suit the needs of your business and focus on specific practices and aspects. Some examples of custom courses we offer include:

  • High Oleic Soybean Oil

  • Grain Industry Emerging Leader

  • Custom Pasta Courses

All inquires for custom courses should be directed to our Program Development Manager, Casey Peterson.

Course Lists From Previous Years