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Storage project
ISU NorthWest Research Farm grain bin when nearly completed
GSI donates new grain storage system for Iowa State University Northwest research farm Iowa State University’s Northwest Research Farm now has its first grain storage system, thanks to GSI, which donated a 10 500 bushel grain bin, and its local dealer, C-S Agrow Service, of Calumet, Iowa, which donated the labour to install it. Josh Sievers, manager of ISU Northwest Research Farm explains “the deal came about following last year’s harvest where a lot of wet grain had been wasted, he and his colleagues were driving past their local GSI dealer and decided to head in and try to strike up a deal. The local GSI made a request to their headquarters. GSI has gained some publicity and the farm has ended up with a 10 500 bushel grain bin on their site at the end of it”. Mr Sievers cannot express his gratitude to GSI enough, exclaiming, “It was like the stars had aligned and the red carpet had been rolled out.” The new bin will enable the research facility, based in O’Brien County, to store and dry corn more efficiently at harvest than continuing to transport it to a nearby commercial elevator. According to Mr Sievers, “While the farm primarily functions as a research facility, it is also a production farm which has its own financial targets to reach, this new bin will make things easier. The donated storage bin can hold a third of our entire crop, not to mention it is highly automated and very safety conscious.” In addition to the 30-foot bin, the new storage system includes GSI grain bin accessories provided by C-S Agrow
68 | Milling and Grain
at cost to ISU, including outside stairs, unloading auger, aeration floor, stirring equipment, a fan and heater. The dealer’s sister company, The Concrete Guys, donated labour to pour the bin’s concrete pad. GSI, based in Assumption, IL, is a leading global provider of on-farm and commercial grain storage bins, material handling systems, and grain conditioning and drying equipment. “We are extremely grateful for these donations, without which this project would not have been possible,” says Mr Sievers. “This bin will not only allow us to dry and store grain on the farm, but also allow an earlier start on corn harvest without having to pay for off-farm drying and shrink charges. This new system will be put to good use for years to come.” Bryan Halverson, sales manager for C-S Agrow, said it took six workers three days to complete the project, which is located about 1.5 miles south of Calumet. “The ISU Northwest Research Farms plays a key role in advancing agriculture for Iowa farmers,” says Mr Halverson. “As GSI’s largest dealer in the state, we’re proud give back to the community by providing this grain storage system to support their research efforts.” Mr Siever says “The Northwest Research Farm which conducts research in a wide range of agricultural areas including pest treatment applications, water quality, and soil quality amongst other things, currently has no plans to expand further in the short-term but are always open to opportunities which might arise in the future.”