CHS Inc., St. Paul, Minn., reported on May 12 that it plans a significant renovation and expansion project at its Myrtle Grove, La., grain export terminal. The $73 million investment focuses on storage and handling upgrades, which will grow market access for farmer-owners and help move 30 percent more bushels of grain annually through the terminal to global customers.
The CHS Myrtle Grove terminal handles wheat, soybeans, corn, rice, DDGS (distillers dried grains with solubles), and specialty grains for export to customers in Asia Pacific and Latin American countries. Located 25 miles south of New Orleans, it is the first terminal on the Mississippi River.
The terminal expansion project will add six shipping bins providing 580,000 bushels of storage, bringing total Myrtle Grove shipping bin storage capacity to 850,000 bushels. Other upgrades include a new bulk weighing and grading system, a new dock and barge unloading system, and independent conveyance for vessel loading that will allow two commodities to be loaded at the same time.
“Construction is expected to begin in August, during low river conditions,” said Kevin Hall, CHS Vice President, Supply Chain and Continuous Improvement. “Given the terminal’s unique location, significant environmental, engineering, and construction elements were built into every part of our plan.” Completion is expected by summer 2023.