Key facts
- FS GRAIN is expanding its St. Anne, Illinois, grain elevator.
- The expansion includes a new shuttle loader and capacity for over 100 railcars.
- An additional 1.2 million bushels of grain storage is being added.
- The project partners with Union Pacific and CSX railroads.
- Autonomous railcar technology is being implemented for safety and efficiency.
- The upgraded facility will serve markets across the U.S. and Mexico.
FS GRAIN is undertaking a significant expansion of its grain elevator facility in St. Anne, Illinois, a project designed to enhance its capacity and market reach. The upgrade includes the installation of a new, state-of-the-art shuttle loader, enabling the facility to load trains comprising more than 100 railcars, a substantial increase from its previous capacity of approximately 25 cars. This expansion also adds 1.2 million bushels of grain storage to the site.
The project involves a partnership with Union Pacific and CSX railroads, providing mainline Class I rail services. This multimodal approach is intended to transform St. Anne into a premier grain hub, offering area farmers unprecedented access to new markets across the Southern United States and Mexico. FS GRAIN General Manager Cory Winstead highlighted the partnership's benefit in providing farmers a competitive edge in the global grain market.
In addition to increased rail capacity, the facility will incorporate RAYHAWK autonomous railcar technology. This system utilizes machine learning, computer vision, and robotics to automate the opening, closing, sealing, and inspection of railcar lids, enhancing both safety and loading efficiency. The company stated that limited rail capacity had previously forced much of the region's grain onto trucks for longer hauls, and this upgrade aims to shift substantial volume onto rail.
The construction, managed by GROWMARK Construction, is projected to take about 18 months, with a ground-breaking anticipated in late 2024. The expanded facility is expected to have a minimum throughput capacity of 40 million bushels, connecting local growers more directly to end-user demand in the hog, cattle, and poultry industries.