New Cooperative Inc.

The Challenge:

Since the 1930s, companies and farmers unloaded fertilizer barges at a select location along the Missouri River near Blencoe, IA – though, no barges had visited this spot since the early 2000s. However, in 2019, NEW Cooperative purchased the 34-acre location from a private owner and built a floating dock, capable of hosting six barges.

Anticipating multiple barges, the end-customer needed a long-lasting structure, equipped to store over 20,000 tons of fertilizer and withstand poor riverside soil conditions. Greenfield Contractors worked diligently with Calhoun engineering experts to customize a fabric fertilizer building, poised to meet the customer’s specific needs.

The Solution:

Given the Missouri River location, protecting assets from harsh weather conditions remained top of mind. As such, a three-foot-tall concrete stem wall was attached to the fabric to safeguard assets from potential flooding. Additionally, to easily transport fertilizer within the building, Calhoun engineers installed a Sackett-Waconia overhead tripper belt conveyor – collaborating closely with the conveyor manufacturers to ensure all elements aligned with the structure’s specific dimensions.

Fertilizer storage buildings require significant open space to support large vehicles, conveyors and on-site personnel. To accommodate NEW Cooperative’s needs, Calhoun provided them with a customizable leg height and installed an off-center conveyor to increase usable space.