A new grain handling player will be on the scene in the Lower North this harvest, with the construction of a 35,000-tonne storage facility well under way on the outskirts of Mallala.
The Plains Grain operation is the brainchild of local farmers Brad and Brooke Griffiths, who are housing the 20-hectare site.
The site design includes 10,000 tonnes of shed storage for pulses and 25,000t of wall-less bunkers for cereals, and was designed in collaboration with the Pure Grain Network.
"The design will allow for flexibility in segregation capacity to meet the changing needs of harvest," Mr Griffiths said.
The couple have also enlisted Osborne-based grain operator Semaphore Container Services to manage the site during harvest.
"The new site will make use of SCS' expertise in testing, site management and stock accounting, which they already do at their Osborne site," Mr Griffiths said.
"And now with the newly-opened Northern Connector, we are only 40 minutes away from SCS' port terminal service Osborne Berth 1 at Inner Harbour in Port Adelaide."
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Mr Griffiths, a fourth-generation farmer, said the idea was "a long time coming".
"We wanted to create a niche lower cost storage hub that could flex up or down to meet the seasonal demand for local domestic and export markets," he said.
"The key at harvest is paddock logistics and we have looked to address this with sufficient unloading capacity on site to maximise truck turnaround times in the haste of harvest.
"The Adelaide Plains Council region, of which we have looked to encapsulate within the naming of the site, is within close proximity of developing markets of which we want to build relationships as a preferred storage provider to service."
The new site aims to give croppers from Mallala and surrounding districts access to an alternative site for warehousing grain and accessing buyers with competitive fees, with two buyers - Quadra Commodities and JK International - already committed to pricing at the site.
"The development also ensures we keep jobs in our community, which benefits not only Mallala, but the whole region," he said.
Wheat, barley and lentils would be the main grains received in the first year of operation, including multiple segregations for each, which Mr Griffiths said could also expand in the future.
Given the rain received in the region and into the Mid North, Mr Griffiths is confident they will receive enough grain for a successful first year.
The Plains Grain facility is expected to be ready for receivals by November 1.
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