Industries
Grain Elevator & Grain Storage Facility Construction
Design-build contractor for commercial grain elevators, terminal facilities, and grain storage systems across the U.S. and Canada. Over 90 years of specialized grain facility construction experience in concrete and steel — since our founding in Ames, Iowa in 1933.
A modern grain elevator is one of the most complex structures in agricultural infrastructure — combining precision concrete construction, heavy structural steel, sophisticated conveying systems, and advanced controls into a facility that must operate reliably through harvest peaks, extreme weather, and decades of continuous service. Todd & Sargent has been building them since the industry’s early days, and our experience shows in every facility we deliver.
Grain Facility Capabilities
Complete Grain Infrastructure From the Ground Up
A modern grain elevator is one of the most complex structures in agricultural infrastructure — combining precision concrete construction, heavy structural steel, sophisticated conveying systems, and advanced controls into a facility that must operate reliably through harvest peaks, extreme weather, and decades of continuous service. Todd & Sargent has been building them since the industry’s early days, and our experience shows in every facility we deliver.
Commercial Grain Elevators
We build complete commercial grain elevator facilities from the ground up — including concrete elevator legs and working houses, head houses, grain storage bins, receiving pits, load-out systems, truck receiving, and rail loadout infrastructure. Our design-build delivery compresses project schedules and delivers facilities ready for the first crop.
Country Elevator Construction
Country elevator facilities must efficiently receive, condition, and store grain while providing flexible marketing options for local producers. Todd & Sargent designs country elevator facilities for maximum operational efficiency — minimizing receiving queues, optimizing drying capacity, and ensuring loadout flexibility.
Concrete Grain Bin Construction
Slipform concrete grain storage bins from 30 to 105+ feet in diameter. Concrete bins provide superior structural integrity, lower long-term maintenance, and proven durability compared to steel alternatives. Our in-house slipform crews have constructed hundreds of concrete storage structures.
Steel Bin Systems
Hopper-bottom and flat-bottom steel grain bins for supplemental storage, on-farm storage expansion, and facilities where concrete bins are not the optimal choice. We provide supply and erection of steel bin systems as part of complete facility projects.
Grain Drying Systems
Continuous flow and batch grain dryer installation as part of complete facility design-build, including receiving system integration, utilities, controls, and the structural support work required to properly locate and support grain drying equipment.
Truck Receiving & Rail Infrastructure
High-throughput truck receiving pits, scales, and probe systems designed for rapid harvest receiving. Rail receiving and loadout systems designed for BNSF, UP, CN, and CP interchange requirements. Our team handles the full civil, structural, and mechanical scope of receiving and loadout infrastructure.
We Know the Grain Business From the Inside
The most important thing Todd & Sargent brings to a grain facility project isn’t tools or equipment — it’s knowledge. Deep, operational knowledge of how grain elevators work, how they fail, and how to build them so they keep working.
Our engineers and project managers have spent careers designing and building grain handling infrastructure. We understand grain pressure loads on concrete and steel bins, the structural demands of bucket elevator towers, the civil requirements for tunnel systems, and the operational needs that drive facility layout decisions.
We understand the business pressures grain elevator operators face: harvest timing constraints that make startup dates non-negotiable, capital cost pressures in a competitive margin business, and the operational reality that any downtime during harvest is a direct hit to profitability. We design and build facilities with all of this in mind.
Country elevator, terminal elevator, and inland terminal construction
Concrete grain bins: slipform, up to 105 ft diameter and 120+ ft height
Grain elevator legs, head houses, and working house structures
Grain drying and aeration system installation
Truck receiving pits, scales, and probe systems
Rail receiving and rail loadout infrastructure
Flat storage buildings and commodity sheds
Grain tunnel and reclaim systems below grade
Dust management and NFPA 61/652 compliance
Grain Facility Construction FAQs
What is the typical construction timeline for a new grain elevator?
A new grain elevator with 1–2 million bushels of concrete storage, a new elevator leg, receiving pit, and loadout typically takes 12–18 months from design start to operational startup. Timeline depends heavily on storage capacity, structural complexity, and site conditions. We design schedules specifically to protect harvest startup dates.
Can Todd & Sargent build grain facilities in Canada?
Yes. Todd & Sargent Canada, Ltd., our Canadian subsidiary founded in 1985 and headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, has extensive experience constructing grain facilities in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta — the Canadian prairie provinces. We hold the necessary contractor licenses and PE registrations to operate throughout Canada.
Build Your Grain Facility Right
Contact our team to discuss your grain elevator or storage expansion project.
