Abstract: An automatic control for a pellet mill includes a method for automatically calculating start values for feeder speed and steam valve position upon start-up of the pellet mill for pelleting particular formulas of feed. The method includes the step of monitoring the pellet mill to determine optimal feeder speed and steam valve position when the mill is running at optimal conditions, and then adjusting these values by a fixed percentage in order to determine the start-up values. As the steam valve is non-linear, another method is disclosed for converting the steam valve position to a corresponding steam flow, multiplying the optimal steam flow by the same fixed percentage, and then reconverting the starting steam flow value to a corresponding steam valve position. The fixed percentage used to determine the start values may be adjusted, depending upon how aggressive the operator desires the start-up to be and perhaps to adjust for differences in pellet formulations.