It doesn’t take long for large concrete elevators to change the way farmers haul their grain, according to research by the West Central Planning Agency.
The large concrete elevator at Legacy Junction, outside Camrose, was open for only half a crop year and it influenced grain delivery patterns in the area, the agency wrote in the Battle River Trends newsletter.
“Every other delivery point in the County of Camrose, except Bashaw and Ervick, and every point down Highway 13 as far as Sedgewick, lost volume compared with its 10 year average.”
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Legacy Junction was open for six months during the 1995-96 crop year. It handled 110,500 tonnes of grain, more than any other delivery point in the region and more than the 10 smallest points combined.
Volume handled
Already during this crop year the elevator has handled 205,000 tonnes of grain.
The same sort of concentration could happen in other areas where elevator companies are proposing high volume elevators.
Having one large elevator and closing smaller surrounding elevators is more efficient for farmers and the Alberta Wheat Pool, said Brian Reinhart, producer services representative at Legacy Junction.
“On the business side, more producers recognize these are good business decisions,” said Phil Hyde, pool representative from Red Deer.
Not everyone is as keen on the large elevators. County of Camrose administrator Brian Austrom said road damage caused by larger trucks is a concern.
“It impacts on local roads. We are definitely seeing a lot more truck traffic,” said Austrom.
Hay Lakes mayor, Vern Busenius said they lost about $14,000 in taxes when their three pool elevators were torn down this spring.
“It hurt the town. A lot of people brought in grain,” said Busenius.
To make up for the loss of the elevators, the town is creating more housing development to attract residents and visitors.
“We’ve been trying to attract business, but in a small community it’s pretty hard.”
