DORCHESTER, NEBRASKA, US — Farmers Cooperative has unveiled plans to build a grain shuttle loading facility near Pawnee City, Nebraska, US. Farmers Cooperative said the location was chosen for its “excellent rail access and proximity to the highway,” and it is expected to serve as a vital outlet for local grain production.

“The facility will feature a storage capacity of approximately 3.7 million bushels and will include a 110-car shuttle shipper on the BNSF railroad,” said Dale Hayek, senior vice president of grain at Farmers Cooperative. “The four larger concrete tubes will hold 820,000 bushels each. We will have unloading capacity of 4,000 to 20,000-bushel-per-hour grain pits with independent receiving legs and truck flow will be accelerated with two scales.”

Farmers Cooperative said the facility in southeast Nebraska primarily will handle corn and soybeans, with the ability to handle wheat, milo and specialty crops. Construction is scheduled to begin this fall and the facility should be operational by the fall of 2026.

“This new facility represents a significant investment in the future of the Pawnee City area,” said Allan Zumpfe, president and chief executive officer of Farmers Cooperative. “This new facility adds to our grain handling and storage capabilities in such a way that we are not only meeting the current needs of today’s producers, but also positioning our company to support their growth for years to come. At Farmers Cooperative, we are committed to providing the best possible service and resources to our members, and this project is a testament to that commitment.”

Farmers Cooperative has 55 grain storage facilities with total licensed grain storage capacity of 70.8 million bushels, according to Sosland Publishing Co.’s Grain & Milling Annual 2024.