CHS Inc. Grain Terminal (Superior, Wisconsin)

USA / Minnesota / Duluth / Superior, Wisconsin
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This terminal was constructed in a number of sections starting in the early 1940s and finishing in the early 1960s. Originally called the Farmers Union grain terminal, then operated by Grain Traders of America (GTA), then Harvest States, then Cenex Harvest States, now CHS.

It can store over 18,000,000 bushels of grain, the largest capacity of any waterside grain terminal in North America. In the 1960s and 70s the Elevator 1 section of this complex was touted as the tallest grain elevator in the world, its headhouse standing somewhere between 250 and 270 feet tall. For the last 15 years it has been the busiest grain terminal in the Twin Ports every shipping season. Starting in 2003 grain exports through the Twin Ports have dropped dramatically. Since then the CHS terminal usually loads far more grain onto ships each year than all other Twin Ports facilities combined. It's one of the few grain terminals in North America that can load two ships simultaneously, one at the primary loading gallery north of Elevator 1 at the outer end of the Tower Ave. slip, and one at Elevator 2 on the east side of the facility along the Hughitt Ave. slip.

Primary grains handled here include spring wheat, durum wheat, soybeans, canola, flax, field peas, and dried distillers grain. In the past this terminal has handled substantial quantities of corn, sunflower seeds, and many other grains as well. CHS once held (and may still hold) the honor of loading the largest U.S.-originated grain cargo in Great Lakes history when it put 28,942 metric tons of soybeans aboard the M.V. Paterson (now Pineglen) in May of 1996. Unsure as to whether that record stands today, as there are now several Canadian lake freighters sailing that regularly load 29,000+ metric tons of grain at a time, and a few of them have loaded at Twin Ports elevators in recent years.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   46°44'23"N   92°6'4"W

Comments

  • The company that runs this facility now officially goes by the name CHS, Inc. This terminal was constructed in a number of sections starting in the early 1940s and finishing in the early 1960s. Originally called the Farmers Union grain terminal, then operated by Grain Traders of America (GTA), then Harvest States, then Cenex Harvest States, now CHS. It can store over 18,000,000 bushels of grain, the largest capacity of any waterside grain terminal in North America. In the 1960s and 70s the Elevator 1 section of this complex was touted as the tallest grain elevator in the world, its headhouse standing somewhere between 250 and 270 feet tall. For the last 15 years it has been the busiest grain terminal in the Twin Ports every shipping season. Starting in 2003 grain exports through the Twin Ports have dropped dramatically. Since then the CHS terminal usually loads far more grain onto ships each year than all other Twin Ports facilities combined. It's one of the few grain terminals in North America that can load two ships simultaneously, one at the primary loading gallery north of Elevator 1 at the outer end of the Tower Ave. slip, and one at Elevator 2 on the east side of the facility along the Hughitt Ave. slip. Primary grains handled here include spring wheat, durum wheat, soybeans, canola, flax, field peas, and dried distillers grain. In the past this terminal has handled substantial quantities of corn, sunflower seeds, and many other grains as well. CHS once held (and may still hold) the honor of loading the largest U.S.-originated grain cargo in Great Lakes history when it put 28,942 metric tons of soybeans aboard the M.V. Paterson (now Pineglen) in May of 1996. Unsure as to whether that record stands today, as there are now several Canadian lake freighters sailing that regularly load 29,000+ metric tons of grain at a time, and a few of them have loaded at Twin Ports elevators in recent years.
  • The MV Patterson has certainly lost that title as we just loaded the Algoma Harvester last week at Riverland in Duluth with just over 30,000 metric tons of spring wheat.
This article was last modified 15 years ago