CHS Inc. and Mountain View Co-op, Black Eagle, Mont., announced on Sept. 10 that they have formed a limited liability company to build a 35,000 ton dry fertilizer warehouse at Collins, Mont. Construction on the warehouse is underway, with completion expected mid-summer 2013.
Products stored at the new facility will include urea, phosphates, potash, ammonium sulfate, and micronutrients. Mountain View will be the facility’s exclusive fertilizer retailer, serving growers throughout its trade area in north-central Montana. According to its website, Mountain View currently operates a grain elevator at the Collins location.
“Over the years, we’ve noticed a continued shift to earlier planting, and an increase in the time it takes fertilizer manufacturers to get products to us to meet growers’ needs,” said Bruce Clark, Mountain View’s general manager. “This new facility will enable us to meet our growers’ increased demand for nitrogen and sulfur products, to ensure healthy, profitable crop production.”
CHS said the new warehouse supports its strategic aspirations of investing in projects that leverage cooperative enterprise capabilities and focus on grower needs.
“Urea normally produced and shipped from Canada is increasingly being used locally by Canadian farmers, greatly limiting product availability,” said Cheryl Schmura, CHS vice president, Crop Nutrients. “The strategic location of the Collins fertilizer hub plant means customers in this region will have a secure, competitive supply.”
Mountain View operates 10 agronomy locations within a 100-mile radius of Great Falls, Mont., serving farmers growing dryland winter wheat and barley, malt barley, and irrigated hay. In addition to its Collins location, Mountain View’s facilities are in Big Sandy, Brady, Conrad, Fairfield, Fort Benton, Great Falls, Dutton, Lincoln, Power, and White Sulphur Springs.