ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, U.S. — CHS Inc. announced on March 1 letters of intent with local grain partners to build state-of-the-art shuttle train loading elevators in Montana, Nebraska and North Dakota in the U.S., with completions estimated over the next 12 to 18 months.

"The CHS commitment to growers includes endeavors like this where we reinvest back into our communities," said John McEnroe, senior vice-president, Country Operations division of CHS. "With new or updated facilities, producers in these communities not only get faster service when they need to move their grain, but they will also benefit from increased market access, particularly to export customers served out of the Pacific Northwest. It's a very tangible way CHS returns value to its member-owners."


CHS Country Operations has a preliminary agreement for construction in place with Farmers Union Elevator Co., New Salem, North Dakota, U.S. There is also an agreement between All Points Cooperative, Gothenburg, Nebraska, U.S.; Farmers Cooperative Grain Company, Merna, Nebraska, U.S.; and the CHS Agri-Service Center, Holdrege, Nebraska, U.S.; for a facility in the Custer County area. In addition, CHS has expansion plans to accommodate 110-car trains at its Kershaw, Montana, U.S., location as well as its facility in Lakota, North Dakota, U.S., operating under Lake Region Grain.

Facilities will all be located on a BNSF rail line and first construction could start as early as May 2011.