CASE STUDY: BRUCE THOMPSON, TEMORA NSW

Southern NSW is a traditionally mixed-farming area, and Optimum Grain Silos client Bruce Thompson is one of the growers who’s been working the land out near Temora, for coming up on three decades. 

In this case study, you can read about Bruce’s journey from short to long term storage, and what he sees as having been the main benefits of erecting grain silos on his property.

Bruce has sown wheat and canola for both feed grains, and to market, for more than 20 years; before adding barley and legumes to his crops in more recent times. During construction of his Optimum-engineered Cyclone grain silo set-up, he explained his grain storage journey.

“We stored grain in the real early days, but eventually got out of it because it was easier to run it into town, slide it across a computer screen, and sell it.”

Bruce explained how the ease-of-selling made making multiple trips into the weighbridge each day during harvest a viable option in the outset. However, when it came to achieving maximum profitability and efficiency, going back to grain storage was a clear answer.

“We had a bagging system, which was good for a more short-term storage solution. But we’ve now turned to a more fixed storage system.”

Operating in close proximity to a grain processing plant, Bruce took advantage of this option. Having to pay port prices though made taking the leap back into long-term storage, by means of grain silos, an easy choice to make.

“Storage can be put up for half of what we were paying to go through a processing plant.”

“Taking advantage of tax breaks, and low interest loans, it was the perfect time to do it,” Bruce adds, explaining how the construction of grain silos made perfect business sense for him and his operation.

Optimum Grain Silos were happy to work with Bruce to get the Optimum out-loading augers onto Bruce’s nicely constructed belt conveyor. This created a system that joins all of the storage together for easy of loading grain.

“The engineering build is solid, and I didn’t have to worry about getting a builder for the foundation - they organised everything.”

“They were punctual, accurate on their quoting and timelines, and the product and brand is excellent. You can tell there’s longevity in the equipment”

In wrapping up, Bruce added that working with a local business, and Australian made products and materials was always a big bonus for him.

“It’s just been a great experience working with them.”