Windsor grain terminal expansion benefits southwestern Ontario

A grain terminal at the Port of Windsor has been expanded. CTV Windsor’s Bob Bellacicco reports.

A transformative expansion is completed at Archer Daniel’s Midland Company (ADM) in Windsor.

“Windsor is a world player on the food global stage,” exclaimed Windsor Port Authority CEO Steve Salmons.

He’s excited about the $76-million expansion, as are many farmers from Essex County, Chatham-Kent, Elgin, and Lambton County.

“That just shows that there’s investment here in our local economy and for our grain farmers,” noted Grace Pearson, a farmer and provincial director of District One Essex County for the Grain Farmers of Ontario.

The four new silos that were introduced during Thursday’s ribbon cutting ceremony can hold up to 2,500 tonnes of grain and soybean meal each.

“It means up to 400,000 tonnes a year,” Salmons explained.

“That’s just ship after ship of new grain going to world markets, supporting our farmers and local workers and local industry. This is just a massive, massive project.”

Two grain dryers, that were close to 80 years old, have been replaced with new ones containing new technology.

“Those all allow farmers to bring soybeans directly from another field and if they’ve got a little bit of moisture, then we can condition them for processing or export so it’s perfect timing for those to be complete today,” said Kevin Wright, ADM general manager for the Great Lakes region.

Pearson feels that is a game changer.

“When the weather doesn’t always cooperate, you need these folks here to be able to take your grain. When the weather clears up, you can go again on the farm and keep things rolling and keep harvests along.”

According to Wright, the expansion was crucial because the facility had reached its capacity limit.

“Now we’re going to be able to buy more grain from farmers and supply our customers more efficiently and have the opportunity to export more grain,” Wright said.

The federal government invested $26.3 million into the expansion helping to ensure job stability for the 150 workers at the ADM facility.

The project also includes a new roadway and kiosk, allowing trucks to enter the grounds more efficiently and load or unload a lot quicker.

“We’ve added some additional storage over at the plant as well, that allows us to support more of our truck business here in the Great Lakes region,” Wright pointed out.

The project is done earlier than expected as farmers head into harvest season.

“It’s perfect timing to introduce this to the public and to have an official grand opening,” Pearson said.