CARGILL announced May 29 that it would invest roughly $30 million to increase unloading speeds, storage and shipping capacity at its grain elevator near Holdrege, Neb.
The capital investment project, expected to be completed in time for the 2014 harvest, will also add railroad service at the facility.
To date, the Holdrege elevator has shipped grain by truck; the project will add rail service along the BNSF Railway, which will allow Cargill to load 120-car shuttle trains at the facility.
"Unit strains are an efficient way to move large volumes of grain," Tim Coppage, Cargill's Cornhusker Farm Service Group (FSG) merchandising leader, said. "By giving us access to additional markets like the Pacific Northwest and the U.S. Southwest, we can better meet the demands of our farmer customers for broader markets."
In addition to adding shuttle train access, the project will increase storage by 3.5 million bu. for a total site storage capacity of 5 million bu. The company will add three truck receiving pits with a combined 80,000 bu.-per-hour receiving capacity; rail shipping capacity will reach 70,000 bu. per hour.
"The high-capacity receiving pits and grain legs will provide a better fit to the increased harvest speed of area producers," said John Barret, Cornhusker FSG operations leader.
Cargill will increase the number of staff at the facility from seven full-time grain employees to 10 or more over the coming year.
Volume:85 Issue:22