b"plant with the same protocols as if it was pedigreed seed being cleaned. Our seed is very clean when we're done, so the producers are very happy with the product we give them, Baier adds.The Provost Seed Cleaning Co-operative was established back in 1959, and its first plant opened for business a year later. Eventually, the original wooden building was in sore need of replacement, and in 2000, a new steel and concrete structure was constructed at a cost of $1.1 million. Baier says since then, the facility has undergone $4 million in upgradesincluding a major expansion last year which effectively doubled the plants overhead storage space as well as its production capacity. We added an additional 23,000 bushels of overhead storage. Weve also upgraded our equipment, so now we're able to process 900 bushels of seed per hour on cereals and 1,200 bushels per hour on peas, Baier says, stressing the upgrades and plant expansion are meantThe Provost Co-operative Seed Cleaning Plant is located in Provost, Alta, about 270 kilometres east of Red to accommodate not just current demandDeer near the Saskatchewan border. but future demand as well.Baier notes the average overall outputsecond Graham G40 seed treater to theencourage them to buy a share in the each year now is between 750,000 toline. Baier says the plants twin G40s areco-operative.800,000 bushels of seed, which providesmounted on a 20-inch by 24-toot mixingThere is a cost savings to the producer a significant boost to plants bottom line. auger and can treat 90 to 100 bushels ofif they are a member as well, says Baier, All of my major expenses are by theseed per minute on cereals. The seedadding co-operative shareholders save hour, the biggest one being labour. So,treating business has more than doubled20 cents per bushel on the seed they the more bushels I can get done in thatin the last five years, and to meet thebring in for cleaning and treating.hour, the more profitable we are, heincreased demand theyve sped up theAccording to Baier, the plant operation says. Time is a very valuable commoditytime it takes to complete treatments. wasnt affected all that much when the to our customers as well. I've been really trying to show farmersCOVID-19 pandemic hit North America Last years upgrade to the Provostthe benefit of what seed treatments canlast March. The only major change, he Co-operative Seed Cleaning Plantdo, Baier says. Our largest increasesays, was closing the plants office to included the purchase of three new pieceshas come from treating pulses, peas andcustomers and the public. Instead of of cleaning equipmenta LMC 606lentils. However, we are treating morecoming in for a cup of coffee, producers roll feed aspirator, a LMC 7216 Adventcereals as well. Farmers are slowly seeinghave remained in their trucks while cleaner and a Marc 500 XL gravity table. Athe benefit of treating. theyve emptied the grain, cleaned it and Carter Day nine-roll indent with a 54-inchIn addition to Baier, the plantreloaded.Scalperator is the fourth piece of cleaningemploys two full-time operators, ColeWe're going to continue doing this equipment utilized by the plant.Angeltvedt and Lucas Kemper. A fourthfor another couple of months yet and We're trying to stay ahead of thestaff member is the plants CFO, Karenthen see how things go, says Baier. It's game here, explains Baier. We want toGartner. working quite well. I mean, there's so continue to grow our business, and to doThe farmer-owned plant is overseenmany means of communication now that, we need to stay up to date on newer,by a seven-member board of directorsother than face to face. Its quite easy to better and faster cleaning equipment.and presently has 237 registereddeal with our customers by phone and This means well adding a colour sortershareholders. Typically, about five to 10text. You can still meet all their needs; in the near future to match the currentnon-shareholder farmers will the use thethey just don't physically come into the capacity of our plant. seed cleaning facility each year, Baieroffice.The facility also upgraded its seedsays, and if new customers are happy Mark Halsalltreating equipment last year, adding awith the service and final product, hell 30seed.ab.ca"