Farmers optimistic after Halifax Grain Elevator signs two-year deal with Port of Halifax

The Halifax Grain Elevator has signed a two-year deal with the Port of Halifax.

Three trucks carrying 100 tonnes of barley unloaded at the grain elevators in Halifax Monday.

“This is a new customer we have that has a program where they’re shipping barley from Prince Edward Island out into containers to Southeast Asia,” says Kim Batherson, the president and CEO of Halifax Grain Elevators.

It’s a bit of a trial run. Over the course of the season, the total amount shipped will be 1,000 tonnes and, if all goes well, shipments could increase in weight and frequency.

It’s a bit of a turnaround for Halifax Grain elevator which was without a lease after this season.

A new two-year deal was signed with the Port of Halifax last week.

“So, we’re good now until the end of December 2028. So, three more harvest seasons for the farmers, which is great,” says Batherson.

The grain elevator has been a fixture on the Halifax waterfront since 1924. Today, barley, wood pellets and soybeans are the main exports.

The port had considered infilling the berth where ships tie up to be loaded so cargo business could be expanded.

If that happened, those commodities would have to be sent to Montreal to be shipped around the world.

“It’s certainly great news to hear that they’re going to extend until 2028,” says Rory Crawford.

He grows soybeans on 400 acres on the family farm in River John and says the extension brings some stability to a volatile industry.

“If they had closed it, I don’t think we would’ve been able to afford to grow soybeans without shipping to Halifax. It would be a lot of money to truck to Montreal versus going to Halifax elevator,” says Crawford.

Currently ships carry exports to Europe and Southeast Asia. With a new deal in hand and Canada looking for new trade partners, Kim Batherson is hoping to now land a long-term deal that will not only keep the grain elevator open but hopefully expand its operation.

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