Echo Agronomy – Phase 2
June 1, 2026 – Foundations are complete
The foundations are complete for the seed warehouse and shop. We’re looking forward to getting the floors poured and erecting the steel structures!
May 1, 2026 – Preparing for concrete
The second phase of the Echo Agronomy Center Complex continues this spring! As originally planned, a seed warehouse and company shop are being constructed this year. Both buildings are Sukup steel buildings. Currently, the site is being prepared for concrete work.
Vesta Grain – 710,000 bushel bin
June 1, 2026 – Putting in rebar
There is a lot of steel that goes into the cement foundation of a grain bin. The crew is busy putting the layers of rebar in place and getting ready to pour concrete
May 13, 2026 – Stabilizing the foundation with rammed aggregate piers
When a bin will hold over 42,000,000 pounds of grain, you have to have a solid base underneath it. The soils in Vesta are not good enough to support this kind of weight. In order to correct that, we have to add rammed aggregate piers. The rammed aggregate piers are constructed by drilling open shafts and then filling the shafts with aggregate, compacting with a vibrating plate compactor as the aggregate is placed. As the aggregate is compacted, it displaces the soils around the perimeter of the pier and improves the density of the surrounding soils.
May 1, 2026 – Dirt work
Dirt work is currently being done in preparation for building a 105 foot diameter 710,000 bushel bin. This Sukup bin is being built on the East end of the South complex. This bin will help our grain department lessen the amount of grain that has to be shipped out of Vesta during harvest. We expect this extra storage to help with harvest lines, as we won’t have to pause receiving in order to load out as many trucks.
Wabasso Grain – 710,000 bushel bin
May 20, 2026 – Excavating & hauling in fill
The soil in Wabasso is better than in Vesta for construction but it still isn’t quite good enough. We do not have to put in the aggregate piers, but we do have to over-excavate the site and haul in fill. Everything is progressing though and we are on schedule.
May 1, 2026 – Demolition
We are taking down smaller bins and the shed in Wabasso in order to add a 105 foot diameter 710,000 bushel Sukup bin. The design layout is such that another 105 foot bin and receiving pit can be added in the future.
