Westlock Seed Cleaning Co-op Ltd. posted another successful year for the 2023-24 crop year, and is looking forward to some important changes in the year ahead.
At the annual meeting of shareholders held in the Memorial Hall the evening of Nov. 5, shareholders, staff and guests were brought up to date on the activities at the plant of the past year and the exciting changes in the coming year.
In his report, board chairman Colin Felstad said the board was “very pleased with the plant’s financial performance this past year,” and added it “is a testament to the dedication of of our staff and management. We are both fortunate and grateful to have them operating our plant.”
He also noted the past year has been a busy one for both the staff and board, with a busy existing plant and business as usual, which included work on the new plant just to the west of the existing plant continuing throughout the year.
While construction on the new plant has taken slightly longer than originally projected, Felstad added all are pleased with the design and quality. While slightly over budget, he added the cost is still within the 10 per cent contingency. The final cost is expected to be near $13 million, and Farm Credit Canada continues to be the sole lender.
He said watching the new plant slowly taking shape during this past year, the highlight was the lift of the bin cluster, built on the ground, flawlessly lifted into place onto the the steel structure by two large cranes this past June.
“We are on target to run some test batches of grain through the new plant this (next) spring, with full utilization taking place in the fall of 2025. The staff is excited to move in and gain the efficiencies that it will offer,” he added.
Felstad added the old plant is running well and will remain in operation until the end of the current cleaning year. Originally, there was consideration to keeping the old plant for the future use, but the cost of paying taxes, insurance, and increased maintenance led the board to choose to close it. Equipment and components will be sold, he said and noted. “We are confident the new plant will look after the co-op’s need for many years to come.”
Along with the plant changes, there will also be changes to the staff and management team. Jackie Huppertz, who has been in the front office for several years, has been hired as the Pedigreed Seed/Business Development Lead effective this past Sept 1. Felstad said this will take over some of the managers duties in regards to Pedigreed seed as well as broaden the co-op’s marketing and outreach efforts. Another change is the hiring of Mackenzie Walker as the new manager starting in the summer of 2025. Wayne Walker, who has led the co-op for 42 years, will be retiring at that time.
Felstad praised his efforts, noting “As our manager and leader, Wayne has grown our plant and facilities year after year, providing a great seed cleaning service to many customers. He able served on both provincial and national boards for the seed industry. He has left a lasting legacy of excellence for both us locally and indeed, the whole seed industry. We will continue to ask his advice and are glad he won’t be far away. Thank you, Wayne.”
In his report for 2024, manager Wayne Walker said, “The seed cleaning co-op had another successful year with a total of 1,681,890 bushels of seed and processing occurring.”
Of that, 662,160 bushels (40 per cent) was pedigreed seed, 994,003 bushels (59 per cent) was farm saved seed, and 25,727 bushels (one per cent) was separation and dockage removal.
“Treating numbers were strong,” Walker reported, “with 306,410 bushels being treated while an additional 19,284 bushels of seed primer was applied.”
Seed sales from the bin yard were approximately 419,600 bushels and sales from the in-house bins were approximately 78,000 bushels, he added. The numbers are a drop from the year before, but he noted much of that can be attributed to a larger carryover of pedigreed seed, loss of a couple of seed growers and the large increase in Fusarium graminearum experienced last year. “Higher levels of Fusarium graminearum caused a loss of cleaning, as the percentage of infection was much higher than in any previous year,” he said.
Walker added that “Regular maintenance and planned maintenance days occurred throughout the winter as the old plant is definitely showing its age.” He noted that during next summer, re-arranging the bin yard for easier loading and filling management will take place.
“From an operations standpoint, our staff is very much looking forward to operating the new plant.” He noted with Mackenzie Walker taking up the Manager position in July, 2025 and Jackie Huppertz the Pedigreed Seed/Business Development Lead as of Sept 1, 2024, they will be the first contacts at the new facility. Full time employees of the plant currently are Neil Greenfield (37 years), CJ Peterson (10 years), Scott Ivey (5 years and part-time employees Chad Benson (8 years), Connor Zilinski (3 years) and seasonal Randy Musterer (3 years).
“The plant is a success due to its committed employees, forward thinking board and above all else, the shareholders who use all aspects of this plant,” he concluded.
Of seven seed cleaning plants in Alberta, Westlock was top in bushels in three of five areas in 2024. They were top in seed only processed (1,656,163), Farm Saved Seed (common - 994,003) and Treating only (325,694). Westlock was second behind Taber with 662,160 bushels of pedigreed seed treated (Taber had 835, 363 bushels) and fourth in total volume (1,681,890 bushels) behind Strathmore, Taber and Three Hills plants. A total of 14 plants, including Westlock, are shown in the 2024 comparisons.
The Westlock Seed Cleaning Co-op Ltd. has a shareholder base of over 800 members and serves a large area, cleaning and treating seed for the crops of tomorrow.
