Farmstead damaged by tornado northeast of Enderlin, N.D. overnight June 20-21, 2025 (Joe Leier/KFGO)
Arthur, ND — In response to widespread storm damage that destroyed more than 10 million bushels of on-farm grain storage across eastern North Dakota, The Arthur Companies announced today a major capital investment in emergency and long-term grain handling infrastructure at its Ayr and Pillsbury locations.
The storms, which swept through the region in late June, severely impacted both farmer-owned and company-operated grain infrastructure. “Many of our customers lost a significant portion of their on-farm storage,” said Hank Brown, Assistant General Manager for Arthur’s Eastern ND operations. “Our immediate goal is to ensure we’re prepared to receive potentially one of the largest corn harvests eastern North Dakota has ever seen.”
The Arthur Companies will construct over 5 million bushels of new bunker storage and significantly expand drying capacity ahead of harvest:
· At Ayr: Two new 1.3 million bushel paved bunkers will be built with upgraded unloading, truck flow, and fan systems. A new 7,500 bushel-per-hour dryer will replace the site’s existing 2,000 bph unit—more than tripling throughput.
· At Pillsbury: A 2.5 million bushel expansion of the existing East Bunker will bring total capacity to 4.5 million bushels, including a new reclaim conveyor system for greater efficiency. A new 10,000 bushel-per-hour dryer will be added alongside the site’s existing 7,500 bph unit to dramatically improve drying speed.
Construction at both sites is set to begin immediately and will be completed ahead of this year’s harvest. New storage announced today is in addition to 1.8 million bushels of expanded bunker space which was already under construction at the companies’ location in Harvey. The expanded capacity is part of Arthur’s long-term commitment to being a reliable partner for the region’s growers, especially in years when conditions on the farm are anything but typical.
“These investments reflect our long-term commitment to helping our producers and partners grow and prosper,” said Justin Knott, General Manager for Arthur’s Eastern ND operations. “We’re building for this harvest—and for the next generation.”
The Arthur Companies news release
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