Expansion creates more than 700,000 bushels of grain storage for Thamesville area producers

Investment and construction of four new steel grain bins for Great Lakes Grain site in Thamesville was formally announced last week by AGRIS Co-operative board president, Jim Maw.

The $2.15 million investment by AGRIS Co-operative will significantly improve storage capacity and traffic flow by removing some existing storage and adding additional storage. The new layout improves flow and allows future storage expansion and intake capacity as market conditions demand.

The expansion will make way for an additional 700,000 bushels of grain storage for the co-operatives member-owners and customers in the Thamesville area. “These improvements will allow us to utilize the Thamesville elevator to its capacity, giving us added volume for wet grain,” says Don Kabbes, market development manager for Great Lakes Grain. The expansion will allow the site to receive greater volumes throughout the harvest period, allowing the co-operative's member-owners to move the crop more efficiently.

The project is expected to be completed by fall harvest (Sept. 2014).

Media launch at  Great Lakes Grain Thamesville site on Dec. 12 with AGRIS Co-operative board of directors (L-R) Jim Anderson, Larry Pajot – board vice-president, Richard Tanner, Ray Simard, Dave Sherman, Jim Maw – board president, John Sauvé, Paul Repko – board secretary, John Nooyen, Stan Gillier, Kim Fysh. 

Great Lakes Grain is a grain marketing partnership between GROWMARK, Inc. and AGRISCo-operative Ltd. Great Lakes Grain is one of the largest operators of Ontario country elevators. It represents close to 440,000 MT (17 million bushels) of storage capacity with total marketing of more than of 46 million bushels serving farmers at more than 24 AGRIS Co-operative and FS PARTNERS branded locations from Windsor through to Toronto and north to Georgian Bay.

FS is larger than life!

The next time you are travelling the 401 about half way between London and  Chatham, you'll most likely notice a very large FS sign along the way.   

This particular FS logo is perched high at the top of one of the grain silos at AGRIS Co-operative's/Great Lakes Grain site in Dutton. Measuring 35 ft wide, it is by far the biggest FS in Ontario. 

This particular facility was considered to be the best location in the province to warrant moving forward with a project of this magnitude. “There is clear visibility to the thousands of travellers each day driving the 401,” says Terry Stevenson, communications manager for AGRIS Co-operative.  

The sign company that was contracted for the job confirmed that painting the FS directly onto the silo provided the best visual impact allowing it to hug the curves of the structure giving it a wider girth and maximizing the distance it can be seen.  The painted sign will also be able to tolerate the affects of wind and other environmental elements more efficiently, therefore extending the life span of the project.

Next time you are in the area, make sure you check it out.

FS PARTNERS recognized for its support of renewable fuels

This post is from FS PARTNERS Delivering Innovative Solutions blogsite. Posted Dec.4

FS PARTNERS Energy Sales Manager Tom O'Neill
accepting CRFA Fueling Change Award.

Last week, FS PARTNERS was awarded the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association's Fueling Change Award for the organization's achievements in promoting the use of renewable fuels. 

Accepting the award for FS PARTNERS was Energy Sales Manager Tom O'Neill, who is the key spokesperson for renewable fuels for FS PARTNERS and has actively promoted the benefits of biodiesel for many years.

Presented annually since 2006, the Green Fuels Awards honour pioneers in the development and commercialization of low carbon renewable fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel in Canada. Award winners are nominated and selected by the members of the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association. The awards recognize the important contributions of individuals and companies who are advancing biofuels production and use in Canada. 

You can read more about the awards and other recipients here:

http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/canadian-green-fuels-award-winners-announced-1859096.htm

About the CRFA Green Fuels Awards:
The CRFA annual awards are the pre-eminent national awards recognizing the hard work and dedication of those working in Canada's renewable fuels industry. Award Recipients are selected for their achievements in the development, commercialization, and promotion of low carbon renewable fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel in Canada.