The Brussels Post, 1974-04-03, Page 214 • SPRING SUPPLEMENT to THE HURON EXPOSITOR,'THE BRUSSELS POST, 1971-4a
W. G. Thompson & Sons Ltd.
on the completion of
their new enlarged facilities
4
WE BUILT THE CLEANER HOUSE, HELPED
DESIGN THE NEW FACILITIES, AND DID ALL
THE MILLWRIGHTING:
All that remained last 1-ebruary when loss was
estimated at $300,000 in a fire which destroyed a
fertilizer warehouse and office at the W.G.Thompson
and Son Limited, Mitchell, plant. Shown above left,
still standing was the bulk blending plant and just
behind was the shed where a large portion of the
bulk fertilizer was housed. In the centre steel beams
and concrete walls are all that remain of the area
where 500 tons of bagged fertilizer was kept. At the
right and relatively undamaged by the fire was a
grain storage building. (staff Photo)
Capacity now . 800,000 bushels as plant expands
Bad news orten seems to
have a bit of good in it and that
seems to be the way it is with the
Mitchell area plant of W.G.
Thompson and Sons Ltd.
Lastebruary, the large grain
handling and storage and
fertilizer plant facilities in
Hibbert Township suffered a
major fire which damaged a
fertilizer warehouse and office
facilities and destroyed fertilizer
to the tune of $300,000.
While rebuilding facilities
which had been destroyed by the
fire, the firm launched an .
expansion program and the newly
completed plant, east of Dublin
on Highway Eight, is bigger than
ever. New offices have replaced
those destroyed in the fire. -
Anyone who has seen the
line-ups of farm tractors and
hoppers at harvest time which
stretch out to Highway 8 as
farmers deliver beans and corn to
the Thompson plant, can believe
that .more silo storage space was
needed. The recent expansion
gives the plant an intake ability of
-80,000. bushels of beans or corn a
day, thanks to an additional 65
foot high capacity hoist.
Total storage capacity at the
plant is 800,000 bushels of beans
or corn. This is an increase from
the 120,000 bushel storage space
that was available in August,
1970 when W.G.Thompson and
Sons Ltd. bought the plant. It had
been originally established as
Mitchell Fertilizer and Supply Co.
Ltd., a marketing and supply
facility, by several Mitchell area
farmers. in 1964.
As area farmers have been
growing additional corn and bean
acreage, the company felt that
their handling and -elevator
facilities should also .expand,
according to Tony Bouw,
Manager of Thompson's Mitchell
plant.
W.G.Thompson and Sons were
first - established in this area in
1932 with the opening of their
Hensall plant to serve area
farmers. The Hensall operation
has also expanded significantly
over the years. In addition to theii
Hibbert Township and Hensall
plants, W.G.Thompson and Sons
Ltd. have extensive grain
handling facilities in Blenheim
where the company originated.
Definition
Cooperation is doing with a
smile what you have to do
anyway.
Need for .good water management concerns farmers
Milverton Millwright Ltd. "While spring-fed streams and
flowing wells have been a matter
of satisfaction to farmers, the
characteristics of some of these.
sources of supply have changed
Over the years — many -for the
Traditionaly; good water
management was merely a
well-drained soil: too much water
in a field caused seed to rot and
plants to suffocate; too little and
crops became parched and often
since better drainage reduces the
amount of water in the
groundwater system. Intensively
cultivated land has considerably
less water-storage potential than
unchained pastures containing
be made of water supplies from
wells and springs. Such checks
can reveal any bacteriological and
chemical pollutants possibly
contained in the groundwater.
"Mbre attention should also .be ,