Equipment Upgrades Underway at Vegreville Seed Cleaning Plant

Equipment Upgrades Underway at Vegreville Seed Cleaning Plant

Michelle Pinon - News Advertiser

The Vegreville Seed Cleaning Plant has been operating in the community for 70 years. There have been a number of changes over the years and more are currently underway with the instillation of specialized equipment.

Plant Manager Jennifer Slasynski is excited about the changes and upgrades at the current facility that has been in operation since 1984. Construction on the current seed cleaning plant started in 1983 with its official grand opening on Dec. 14, 1984. It replaced a wooden elevator structure that had been operating since 1952.

New colour sorter.

(Michelle Pinon/Photo)

“In the spring of 2022 the board of directors moved to commence with improvements to the plant that include the purchase and installation of a colour sorter and the replacement of the debearder, which is original to the current plant.

Slasynski pointed out that, “The colour sorter will give us one more tool for the cleaning of seed. It uses cameras to identify contaminants and weed seeds and removes them with a puff of air. We will be able to remove ergot, separate barley from wheat and vice versa, wild oats from oats, etc.” The purpose of a seed cleaning plant, explained Slasynski, is to remove weed seeds and impurities from cereal and pulse crops, in compliance with the Weed Control Act.

“Last cleaning season, July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022, we cleaned 560,000 bushels of cereal grain and pulse crops combined. We are able to clean 350-400 bushels per hour, depending on the commodity and the impurities present. There is incoming storage for 7,000 bushels. Clean storage is 16,000 bushels, and 3,700 bushels of storage for screenings. Our plant also utilizes pulse ladders in our bins to minimize the splitting of those crops.”

Plant Manager Jennifer Slasynski.

(Michelle Pinon/Photo)

Further improvements are also being discussed, although a final decision has not been made as of this time. Financing for the improvements was provided by the County of Minburn.

The Vegreville Seed Cleaning Plant Ltd. is a cooperative, with membership in the co-op being a requirement for service. Shares are $25 each. The cooperative’s annual general meeting will be held in the coming weeks and Slasynski is looking forward to it. She began work at the plant in September of 2021 and was promoted to manager in December of that year. Joel Kaechele serves as Plant Operator. Slasynski and Kaechele are enthusiastic about the changes and looking forward to serving current and future members in the months and years ahead.

Plant Operator Joel Kaechele and Plant Manager Jennifer Slasynski.

(Michelle Pinon/Photo)