Red Deer County will now be home to not one but two giant high throughput grain terminals.
Paterson Grain, a family-owned, Canadian agri-business based in Winnipeg, announced last week it will be constructing a new inland export grain terminal near Bowden.
“We've been looking at Bowden for some time and we think it's a great community,” said Shane Paterson, corporate development officer with Paterson Grain. “We think that there's a lot of great farmers in the area with very productive agricultural land and we want to be a part of that.
“I think we've considered our site very carefully, we're confident that it's a superior site and that we've got a business model that can work there,” he added.
The terminal is expected to begin construction this spring and will be located near the intersection of highways 2A and 587. When completed, it will be accessed off of Highway 587 and Rge. Rd. 12.
It's the second grain terminal announced in Central Alberta within two weeks. The first was announced by GrainsConnect Canada at the end of February and will be located in Niobe, two kilometres north of Innisfail.
The grain terminal in Bowden will be made of steel and utilize a 3,594-metre loop track design.
“We expect that CP will start handling larger trains in the near future and we want to be able to accommodate 136 to 150 railcars at all of our new facilities,” said Paterson, noting the company's focus on efficiency.
“We were the first in Canada to use a loop track at a grain handling facility and since then it's almost become a benchmark of the industry. The loop track design allows to load more efficiently without disconnecting any cars,” he added.
The Bowden facility will also feature a dual receiving area, designed for a super bee truck, allowing for efficient truck unloading.
“Our facility is set up to accommodate a super bee truck, so you can unload both trailers all at the same time without moving your truck,” said Paterson, adding the grain terminal will benefit area farmers in terms of time, efficiency and capacity.
“We can load a unit train in about eight hours at a facility of this type,” he said. “I think it will be a benefit to many farmers. They will have more options, closer facilities and won't have to drive as far.”
It also helps with the need for capacity,” said Paterson.
“I think it's going to give the farmer an option and give them availability. The big thing at a terminal is space,” explained Paterson, pointing to a lack of space for farmers at times. “Another elevator in the area I think is going to help alleviate that.”
The Bowden grain terminal will be able to hold over 55,000 metric tonnes. Grain originating at the Bowden facility will be exported through Paterson's Alliance Grain Terminal in Vancouver to worldwide destinations.
“We're very excited about the project and we're excited to become new members of the Bowden and area community,” said Paterson.
Red Deer County officials are just as pleased with the news.
“The Paterson grain terminal that they are looking at for Bowden is huge,” said Art Preachuk, agricultural services manager for Red Deer County. “We don't currently have a facility to handle grain in the county, and didn't have one until a few weeks ago when the other terminal the other side of Innisfail was announced. Now we've got two and that's pretty awesome.
“It's great news for our farmers,” Preachuk concluded.
Shane Paterson
"We've been looking at Bowden for some time and we think it's a great community. I think we've considered our site very carefully, we're confident that it's a superior site and that we've got a business model that can work there."
