Bigger is better when it comes to grain bins

Mayor Dennis Travale, thanked the Great Lakes Grain and FS PARTNERS team for making Norfolk County “the home to the largest steel grain bin in Ontario” when he spoke to approximately 200 farmers and guests at an open house event in Delhi on Sept 14.

Construction of the newly enhanced grain facility began in May of this year and was completed in September. It can store up to 735,000 bushels or 20,000 metric tons of grain, making it the largest storage capacity for Ontario.

“The intake improvements and new bin is going to dramatically reduce delivery times in harvest season for our farmers,” says Don Kabbes, marketing development manager for Great Lakes Grain. “The reduced congestion and our faster intake speed will allow them to quickly get back on their combines to continue their harvest.”

During a demonstration of the faster intake system at the open house, Devin Homick, Great Lakes Grain Delhi area grain originator, pointed out how the enhancements will move drivers in and out of the facility in half the time. A simple change in driveway access along with additional staging areas for probing, significantly speeds up traffic flow reducing congestion at peak times. Intake time is twice as fast resulting in approximately 44 tonnes of grain dumped in five minutes or nine tonnes per minute.

“This is all part of a three year expansion project with more storage and drying capabilities planned for Delhi and Straffordville in 2012 and 2013,” says Alex Elliott, Great Lakes Grain general manager. Elliott spoke about the power of working together, being farmer owned and making every dollar count for the betterment of the farmer.

Ribbon cutting ceremony -Sept. 14-Delhi
(L-R) Alex Elliott, Great Lakes Grain general manager; Dennis Travale, mayor of Norfolk County; Kim Fysh, GROWMARK director and AGRIS Co-operative director; Ed Benjamins, FS PARTNERS Board of Directors Chair; Don Kabbes, Great Lakes Grain market development manager and Devin Homick, Geat Lakes Grain Delhi area grain originator.