Cargill Limited to Close Birch Hills, Saskatchewan Grain Elevator

Duncan, "The decision to close the elevator is aligned with Cargill's commitment to maintain a safe, efficient and cost effective network of farm service centers across Western Canada."

Sep 29 2010 --- Cargill Limited announced it will be closing its Birch Hills, Saskatchewan grain elevator effective December 31, 2010. The facility will stop accepting grain deliveries as of December 1, 2010.

The crop input facility and office will remain open to serve producers in the surrounding area.

"The decision to close the elevator is aligned with Cargill's commitment to maintain a safe, efficient and cost effective network of farm service centers across Western Canada" said Blaine Duncan, farm service group manager for Birch Hills. The facility also was faced with the challenge of not having any rail service between the months of December and April. Cargill will continue to offer farm customers other local alternatives.

"We value our customers, and our relationship with them is very important to us. We will continue to serve customers' needs through this location, and all grain shipments will be handled at our neighboring Clavet or Nicklen Siding facilities," Duncan said. Dry and liquid fertilizer products will continue to be delivered direct-to-farm.

Cargill, which operates grain handling and crop input facilities across Ontario and the Prairies, works in a partnership with producers to develop grain-marketing solutions. Headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Cargill Limited employs over 10,000 people across Canada and has business interests in meat, egg and oilseed processing, animal feed, salt, chocolate, natural gas, crop inputs, as well as grain handling, merchandising and milling.