Wheat Growers’ Board of Directors has unanimously approved a plan to build an Innovation and Equipment Modification Center. The Center will be located on Wheat Growers’ Bath, S.D., property.
The innovation area of the Center will focus on activities that ensure Wheat Growers stays on the leading edge of precision ag technology. The Center will showcase software and hardware demonstrations and displays, new communication tools and innovative equipment and technologies from our supply partners in precision ag.
The innovation display and demonstration area will have seating for approximately 50-60 people for year-round training on equipment, custom application, safety and other agricultural topics for Wheat Growers staff and customers. It will be able to live-stream video to other Wheat Growers facilities around the Dakotas.
The equipment modification area will serve Wheat Growers customers who bring equipment in for modifications such as fertilizer attachments, precision hardware, seed meter calibration, pump repair and planting hardware. It will also be the main work area for maintenance and repairs of the cooperative’s internal rolling stock.
“This is an extremely exciting project that shows the continued support of our board to enhance Wheat Growers’ capabilities in delivering innovation to the farm for today’s farmers and tomorrow’s generation,” Steve Briggs, Wheat Growers Senior Vice President, Agronomy and Corporate Marketing, says. “We also see the Center being used by educational institutions such as South Dakota State University, Lake Area Technical institute and Mitchell Technical Institute for training and education. It will allow us to expand current equipment modification activities to utilize our employees’ technology expertise in the off-season as well.”
The board has directed the cooperative’s leadership team to search for a second location in the trade area to build a similar facility. Work on the initial project will begin yet this year, with completion scheduled for next spring. Progress on the Innovation and Equipment Modification Center can be tracked through updates at wheatgrowers.com.
