BARRHEAD – The Barrhead District Seed Cleaning Company is a cornerstone of the local agricultural community, and it is celebrating 65 years in business on Wednesday (Aug. 20).
It was founded by local farmers, for local farmers and has been a vital part of the region’s agricultural success providing essential services that ensure high-quality crops and strong yields.
“It was commissioned in 1959, and it was open for the public in 1960,” said Meagan Hoyda, Manager of the Barrhead District Seed Cleaning Company.
The first load of grain was brought in by Art Skirrow.
“The majority of the building structure where the machines are located are original,” said Hoyda.
The Barrhead District Seed Cleaning Company has a long history of adapting to the changing needs of the industry.
Initially the plant’s main business was the cleaning and treating of cereal grains.
In the 1980s a major upgrade was undertaken to accommodate larger vehicles and new technology.
Subsequent expansions have added new facilities for chemical storage, a larger scale, an advanced colour-sorting machine and an office.
Another upgrade has recently been completed to accommodate larger trucks coming to the facility.
The original structure is still the same with old wooden bins inside that are still used occasionally.
The capacity of agriculture has changed. The biggest storage that was originally made in the building was with 750 bushels.
That was rough storage, meaning that it is a dirty grain that comes in.
Now there is rough storage for 9,800 bushels.
In perspective for cleaning lots, the biggest clean was 1,000 bushels with smaller lots of 500 to 600 bushels back in the days.
Today overhead clear storage capabilities are around 9,600 bushels.
The Barrhead District Seed Cleaning Company is a cooperative and there are shareholders that still have original shares.
These stakeholders are generational family members.
For the 2024-2025 cleaning season the plant will be starting to clean the week of Aug. 21.
In the last year there was 191 lots cleaned.
Each year there are 185 to 200 producers in the area that use the services.
Hoyda started as manager for the Barrhead District Seed Cleaning Company in October 2024.
The previous manager, Tom Measures, was employed for 29 years.
Prior to Measures Leo Schultz was the manager for over 20 years.
Measures and Schultz delivered high quality services while changing with the times and demonstrating their commitment to staying on the cutting edge of agricultural advancements.
While the capabilities are all seed grains the Barrhead District Seed Cleaning Company also provides pedigreed seed sales.
Certified seed sales producers in the area sell through the plant and clean through the plant.
Pedigreed Seed is a big contributor along with Ricks Pedigreed Seeds, Pembina Flat Seed Farm, the Quedenbaum Farm and Forward Seed Farm.
Common seeds producers are Randy Standeven and Jason Van Kasteren.
As the agriculture landscape continues to evolve, the Barrhead District Seed Cleaning Company remains a steadfast partner to local producers.
