Following a transition for a grain site in a Greene County town, one cooperative is making some changes. 

Landus Cooperative CEO Matt Carstens says their site in Rippey where an older part of the elevador, less than ten percent of the capacity, has been condemned.

“With Rippey it’s in a unique position where there’s a clear older part and then the newer part, which are not connected. We’re working with the farmers in that area to make sure that we know what they’re planning on using the Rippey facility for and what we need to do as far as moving grain out of the part that will be existing and keeping the farmers running in that geography as well.”      

Carstens points out they will continue to operate the Rippey facility and accept grain for area farmers moving forward.

“What we have to do with it from there whether it’s piling some of it on the ground or shipping out at a faster, higher rate than usual, that’s the steps that we’ll have to take. So from a farmer’s perspective, although it’ll look a little different it won’t have quite as many dump options, we’ll be able to take the grain that they want to bring there.”     

Carstens adds the Rippey site that they originally received from Heartland Cooperative earlier this year was tagged as one of 20 Landus facilities that will receive a portion of $150 million over the next four years to address the safety issues.