Enjoying a beautiful Minnesota fall afternoon on Monday, Sept. 24, 35 NAMA members and guests toured river terminal grain facilities and ended with some fun at the Flat Earth Brewery. Aboard the bus, tour goers heard from Jim Boerboom, Deputy Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Jim set the stage, while in route, by highlighting the impact of agriculture on Minnesota’s economy, key issues facing agriculture today and the need to produce more food for the global growing population. 

The first stop CHS, Inc. Savage, Minn.,  demonstrated the technology, coordination and testing it takes to load up to 17 barge cars per day. Their state-of-the-art facility includes a quarter-mile conveyor that moves grain from the terminal to the barge loading dock. Tour participants observed trucks unloading grain, barge loading and the grain testing facility. 

The next stop, Peavey Grain Elevator, South Saint Paul, Minn., provided a first-hand view of how grain, fertilizer and other products are loaded, stored and transported using trucks, rail and barges. Their facility included an E-crane, designed to run on diesel or electricity.

The conclusion of our tour included a beer-tasting and dinner at The Flat Earth Brewery in Saint Paul. Tour participants received a personal tour of the brewery, the story of the brewery’s marketing/communication style, as well as beer-tasting. Everyone enjoyed a catered dinner from Rooster’s BBQ and the chance to network prior to the Fall Conference Meeting.