Chandler Co-op is moving forward with a fertilizer plant expansion and office project at its Edgerton agronomy location. According to General Manager Jeff Einck, the project has been in planning for several years and is designed to improve fertilizer storage capacity and overall operational efficiency.
“The largest goal of this investment in the Edgerton community was to bring in more fertilizer during the offseason rather than during spring planting,” Einck said. “The value of this is that we are less dependent on daily truck deliveries during April and have the ability to take advantage of fill programs when fertilizer pricing is more favorable throughout the year.”
The cooperative completed the first phase of the project this winter with construction of a new office and control area for the blending tower, which was originally built in 2016. The second phase includes demolition of the existing 1,200-ton warehouse and office, originally constructed in the 1960s, to make room for a new 6,200-ton fertilizer warehouse. The new facility will connect to a 1,400-ton fertilizer warehouse built in 2008.
Einck said the previous setup required crews to turn inventory over multiple times during the busy spring season. “This spring it never rained, so we were putting out 700 tons a day while only being able to store 2,600 tons,” Einck said. “You run out of product pretty quickly.” During peak season, Chandler Co-op was bringing in more than 20 semi loads of fertilizer per day to keep up with demand.
With the expanded storage capacity, fertilizer can instead be brought in gradually throughout the winter months, helping reduce the intensity of the spring rush while also spreading out the workload for local trucking companies. The new warehouse will feature a larger footprint and taller concrete walls, replacing the previous wood-framed structure. Stueve Construction will serve as the general contractor for the project, while Hulstein Excavating is handling demolition and site work.
The project is expected to be completed by Nov. 1. During the fertilizer plant expansion construction, fall fertilizer needs for Chandler Co-op customers will be supplied through the cooperative’s Lake Wilson agronomy plant. Fertilizer application will continue using Edgerton-based equipment and trucks.
“The Chandler Co-op team is excited for the opportunity to continue meeting our customers’ needs,” Einck said.
Source: On The Farm News
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