ADM announced a multimillion-dollar investment to increase throughput at its Optima, Oklahoma, grain elevator. The upgrades aim to move higher volumes of grain and feed products more efficiently, reducing train unload times by approximately 50% and are expected to be completed by mid-2027.
This investment by ADM strengthens the agricultural supply chain, particularly for livestock producers in the Panhandle region, by improving the efficiency and capacity of grain and feed ingredient movement.
ADM has announced a significant multimillion-dollar investment to enhance the throughput capabilities of its grain elevator located in Optima, Oklahoma. This initiative is designed to facilitate the more efficient movement of higher volumes of grain and feed products, thereby strengthening ADM's North American supply chain.
The planned upgrades are expected to reduce train unloading times by approximately 50 percent, leading to a substantial increase in the facility's capacity for handling both corn and corn gluten feed pellets. Key improvements include the addition of 150 rail cars of track capacity and the installation of a new rail unloading pit equipped with two hard car diggers.
Tim McHenry, vice president of North America Grain & Feed at ADM, highlighted the Optima facility's crucial role in connecting grain and feed products from across the country to livestock markets in the Panhandle region, which is one of the nation's largest livestock-feeding areas. He emphasized that these investments are vital for meeting increasing demand and maintaining a competitive standard in moving agricultural crops efficiently.
Michael Means, ADM's vice president of North American Milling and Ag Services Operations, added that the project reflects a commitment to operational improvement, focusing on making the entire unloading process safer, more reliable, and more efficient. The enhancements aim to provide greater consistency in moving grain and flexibility to meet growing customer demand.
Construction on the project has already commenced, with an anticipated completion date by mid-year 2027. ADM operates nearly 1,200 employees across Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas, with a regional footprint that includes numerous production facilities and crop procurement locations.