Series IX. Grain Quality and Transportation Studies, 1917-1996

Beginning in 1980, Hill chaired a task force to evaluate standards and accuracy in devices used to measure grain moisture content. Materials in this section cover issues in the design and calibration of moisture meters, along with historical background on the development of moisture measuring technologies. Files document the task force research, activities, and resulting actions taken by the government and industry.

This set of materials supplements the moisture meter calibration folders. "Shrink" refers to the reduction in the quantity of grain (volume or weight) that occurs when moisture is removed. Together, shrink and meter accuracy affect the amount of corn measured in a given weight, which in turn affects grain grade and price. Hill proposed an adjustment called "equivalent bushel" to establish a uniform way to account for differing moisture amounts.

Materials relate to rail car shortages and unit trains, structural change in the grain industry, and the 1973 crisis on receiving, storing, drying, and transporting the corn crop.

Contains mainly publications co-written by Hill on subjects of biotechnology and genetic modification in crop production.