Cargill to expand storage capacity at its Gilman, Ill., grain elevator

14/06/06 Cargill is nearly quadrupling the storage capacity at its Gilman, Ill. grain facility with plans to build a 6.2-million bushel flat warehouse to the west of its 2.2-million bushel elevator. Construction is expected to begin this month for an early 2007 completion, increasing the facility’s total storage capacity to 8.4 million bushels.

“We are pleased to invest in solutions that benefit our producer customers,” said Doug Childers, farm service group manager at the Cargill AgHorizons’ Gilman office, noting that an additional individual will be hired to bring the staff to nine full-time employees. “The expanded grain storage capacity will facilitate easier, faster grain unloading and shorter truck lines for our customers throughout the year. The additional storage will make us less dependent on rail service, especially during the busy harvest period, and it will contribute to a more competitive and efficient operation that benefits customers.”

Grain will be transported to the warehouse from the existing elevator via enclosed conveyors, which will also convey reclaimed grain material back to the elevator. There will be no significant impact on local traffic patterns. The warehouse will become the first business operating in the city’s new Gilman Business Park.

“Gilman’s city leaders have been very gracious and great to work with in bringing this project to reality,” said Childers. “We appreciate their strong support for this project and are proud to be a founding tenant of the Gilman Business Park.”

In central Illinois, Cargill operates grain elevators year-round in Gibson City, Gilman and Tuscola, as well as elevator operations during the harvest season in Bongard, Brocton, Filson, Hindsboro, Paris, Pesotum, Ridge Farm and Villa Grove.