Photo Karen Graham.
A second generation grain handler operator has recently opened new facilities to boost their capacity and efficiency in receiving, drying and storing corn and soybean for local producers.
It’s been another challenging harvest season for local farmers, as weather has been an unusually persistent obstacle to getting corn and soybean crops to market. Congestion at the grain handler operation adds expense and frustration as trucks wait in line to offload their loads.
After renting storage facilities in the area for more than seven years, Ganaraska Grain, established in 1980, has recently completed a major expansion that dramatically improves the efficiency of their operation, creating a more permanent solution to the growing needs of their customers and speeding up crop receiving at their business.
A second generation grain handling and storage operation in Canton off County Rd. 10., Ganaraska Grain has served farmers from Northumberland, Hastings, Peterborough and Durham counties. A few weeks ago, the firm has opened a new dedicated receiving pit, elevator system and dryer for corn, leaving the existing system available to receive and process soybean. The additional receiving pit will reduce wait times for truckers delivering product to the plant, bringing their capacity to receive wet crop to 25,000 per hour, and allow simultaneous receipt and drying of soybeans and corn. Previously receiving systems required diversion into the appropriate bins when both crops were arriving at the same time, creating delivery delays and opening the possibility of cross-contamination.
Ganaraska Grain is now operated by the founders’ son Rafe Currelly, who continues to embrace the latest technological advances, including modern, state-of-the-art cleaning, drying and storage facilities and a computerized grain management system. Better information helps the operator and their customers, who are in a better position to make informed decisions about their crops.
The elevator is licensed for all commodity groups with a capacity to clean, store, dry and ship approximately 100,000 tonnes of grain per year. To learn more about this operation, visit www.ganaraskagrain.com or follow them on Facebook. KG
