A LITTLE BIT ABOUT US
The seed plant was opened in November of 1957 after a tough struggle to raise the needed share capital. This past year, the plant celebrated its 40th anniversary. The seed plant has been an asset to the community over the years. Cleaning and treating of cereals through the first 20 years was their main business.
In 1984 the plant went through a major upgrade with the addition of a new 30 foot scale (we could then weigh tandem trucks), metal siding, a 2,000 bushel per hour receiving leg, and new overhead hopper bottom bins. At this time a canola treater was set at the plant to apply Vitavax. We treated canola outside with this unit for many years, treating 5-6,000 bags most years.
Again we had a small upgrade, adding a building to house our canola treater. Also our cereal treater was changed to a S1000 for faster turn around. With this machine we were able to inoculate peas. A couple more projects that we did was to replace bin bottoms with steel hoppers inside the plant, a new indent was put in to increase our capacity, and then an Oliver gravity table was added to put out a better product. With the added machinery a power upgrade was also completed.
- In the summer of 1996 we undertook a major upgrade, with chemical storage becoming a concern in the future. We built a building with phase 3 standards implemented into it and a complete new testing and bagging facility (25 kg bags to 750 kg mini bulks). Along with this a new 90 foot scale was installed (70 tonne), and a larger 5,000 bushel per hour leg to handle the larger loads. Our 30 foot scale was relocated on the northside to streamline the truck traffic. Over the entry driveway we installed 4,500 bushels of clean seed bins. Over the phase 3 warehouse we have another 3,400 bushels of clean seed storage and from here it can be loaded on a truck or treated and loaded. This building can also be fed by a separate leg for treating seed and if treated seed comes back to the plant we can handle it without contaminating the plant. We are now able to inoculate peas and are also licensed to apply Provide on canola, peas and wheat. Approximately 3 years ago we started to handle feed and veterinary supplies which has turned a small profit and increased our people flow which has helped our business in other areas.
- Several years ago we were able to clean 450,000 bushels of grain and treat 450,000 pounds of canola. In February, 1999 we received our Warehousing Standards Certificate. The seed plant employees up to 6 people during peak periods which is an asset to our community. The Alliance Seed Plant has enjoyed great success under the careful planning of an aggressive Board of Directors.