Grain Demand

[malleefarmer]

Sounds like a few around have never had to deliver to a feedlot. Weigh yourself in and out, try not to get stuck, climb up and grab a sample for them, wait in line all day, dump in a 3’ pit, set to the bins yourself or dump it on the ground or put it in a bag.... Oh, and there’s only somebody there until 4 or 5.

I was even at one once when a silage truck took out the power lines that went to the mill. Poor trucker that was dumping probably never ran so fast in his life.

Really, an elevator would have to have a LOT of really bad days and equipment breakdowns to be as bad as lots of feedlots.

Or there’s other countries. In the UK everything is an end dump and they aren’t allowed to open doors, just the slide. And they need a sock on so it doesn’t make a mess and keeps dust down.

I think there’s a large level of spoiled people used to delivering to these new terminals that take them for granted. 😂

Am i stoopit or who ever farma spells it but feedlots we got to here are bells and whistles whole shebang, weighbriges , sampler, protein screenings just like a elevator.

I was amazed cruising aro7nd in 17 how modern new shiny proficient everything seemed in kanuck land ivwas envious hmmm. Must have been looking in wrong spots. And mind you ingot lost heaps on grid roads outvthe middle if no were. Like rolling hills ab or getting to sask3 yard

[Blaithin]

Am i stoopit or who ever farma spells it but feedlots we got to here are bells and whistles whole shebang, weighbriges , sampler, protein screenings just like a elevator.

I was amazed cruising aro7nd in 17 how modern new shiny proficient everything seemed in kanuck land ivwas envious hmmm. Must have been looking in wrong spots. And mind you ingot lost heaps on grid roads outvthe middle if no were. Like rolling hills ab or getting to sask3 yard

Feedlots can be very advanced, especially the big ones. High tech cattle handling facilities, micro systems, mill, general set up... not sure many of them are investing in systems that can take a Super B in 5 minutes though. Their goal is push cattle through fast, receiving grain fast isn’t a high priority.

Yes they have scales, yes they check protein and moisture, a few even have probe sampling, but their handling capacity isn’t as much or as quick as an elevator. It doesn’t need to be. So the trucks wait.

Similar issues arise in older infrastructure like ADM and Canada Malt in Calgary. Their malting and milling equipment is pretty efficient, but the receiving infrastructure is as old as the hills, slow, and prone to breakdowns. Lots of trucks get stuck in line those places as well. In their case it’s probably more feasible to build new than try and upgrade those facilities.

[furrowtickler]

Feedlots can be very advanced, especially the big ones. High tech cattle handling facilities, micro systems, mill, general set up... not sure many of them are investing in systems that can take a Super B in 5 minutes though. Their goal is push cattle through fast, receiving grain fast isn’t a high priority.

Yes they have scales, yes they check protein and moisture, a few even have probe sampling, but their handling capacity isn’t as much or as quick as an elevator. It doesn’t need to be. So the trucks wait.

Similar issues arise in older infrastructure like ADM and Canada Malt in Calgary. Their malting and milling equipment is pretty efficient, but the receiving infrastructure is as old as the hills, slow, and prone to breakdowns. Lots of trucks get stuck in line those places as well. In their case it’s probably more feasible to build new than try and upgrade those facilities.

Nice to hear perspectives from people like you in the grain handling business. Also from a very interesting part of western Canada 👍👍