JOHNSTOWN, ONTARIO, CANADA — The Port of Johnstown, a major agricultural and industrial port in eastern Ontario, has unveiled a new C$6 million propane grain dryer. The grain dryer is expected to “significantly” enhance the facility’s grain handling capabilities in time for the 2024 corn harvest. The project was supported by approximately C$2 million in funding through the Agriculture Clean Technology (ACT) program, which seeks to promote sustainable agricultural practices and benefit local farmers.

The Port of Johnstown said the grain dryer was built with advanced heat retention technology, which is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 30% to 45%.

“This new dryer will more than double our drying capacity, allowing us to handle soybean and corn simultaneously,” said Tory Deschamps, mayor of Edwardsburgh Cardinal. “This expansion addresses a significant constraint, as soybean harvest often overlaps with corn harvest, challenging our ability to process both crops efficiently.”

As part of the ribbon-cutting ceremony Leslie Drynan was introduced as the new general manager for the Port of Johnstown.

Located along the St. Lawrence Seaway, the Port of Johnstown handles a variety of commodities, including grain, salt and petroleum products.