Burford grain facility to join Central Ontario FS and Great Lakes Grain network, strengthening market access and service options for southwestern Ontario growers.
Central Ontario FS is strengthening its presence in southwestern Ontario after signing a purchase agreement to acquire Haley's Elevator Inc., a long-established grain handling facility located in Burford.
The acquisition marks another step in the growth of the company's grain elevator network and is expected to enhance grain marketing and service opportunities for farmers in Brant, Norfolk and Oxford Counties.
Following completion of the transaction, the Burford facility will be operated by Central Ontario FS in partnership with Great Lakes Grain. The arrangement will integrate the location into a broader grain co-operative system that serves producers across much of Ontario.
Company officials say the move will increase access to grain marketing services while reinforcing local support for growers in one of the province's most productive agricultural regions.
"This acquisition represents a step in the continued growth of our grain elevator system," said Frank Barron, division manager of Central Ontario FS, in a statement. "It expands our ability to serve growers in the region."
To ensure continuity during the transition, Michael Haley will continue operating the facility. Existing customers will continue working with familiar contacts while the operation becomes part of the Central Ontario FS grain network.
Company officials say the move will increase access to grain marketing services while reinforcing local support for growers in one of the province's most productive agricultural regions.
"This acquisition represents a step in the continued growth of our grain elevator system," said Frank Barron, division manager of Central Ontario FS, in a statement. "It expands our ability to serve growers in the region."
To ensure continuity during the transition, Michael Haley will continue operating the facility. Existing customers will continue working with familiar contacts while the operation becomes part of the Central Ontario FS grain network.
Grain contracting for the Burford location will be coordinated through the company's Ayr Elevator, creating closer integration with Central Ontario FS's existing grain marketing and logistics operations.
Matthew van Sintern-Dick, general manager of Great Lakes Grain, said the acquisition will strengthen support for farmers across the region and improve service capabilities in Brant, Norfolk and Oxford Counties.
The purchase reflects ongoing investment in Ontario's grain infrastructure as companies seek to improve market access, handling efficiency and customer service. Grain elevators remain a critical link in the agricultural supply chain, providing storage, merchandising and transportation services that help producers move grain to domestic and export markets.
The acquisition also builds on recent changes within the GROWMARK system. Central Ontario FS was created on Sept. 1, 2024, through the merger of FS PARTNERS and UPI Energy FS. The combined organization provides agronomic services, precision agriculture solutions and energy products to farmers and rural customers across Ontario.
For grain producers, larger and more integrated networks can offer advantages such as expanded marketing opportunities, improved logistical efficiency and access to a wider range of agronomic and business services.
Great Lakes Grain already has a substantial footprint across the province. The partnership, which includes AGRIS Co-operative Ltd., GROWMARK, Inc. and Embrun Co-op, operates 27 locations stretching from Windsor to Ottawa and north to Georgian Bay.
Together, those facilities provide more than 20 million bushels of grain storage capacity and market more than 50 million bushels annually. The network plays an important role in connecting Ontario grain producers with domestic processors, livestock operations and export markets.
The addition of the Burford facility further strengthens that network in southwestern Ontario, an area known for its production of corn, soybeans and wheat.
Farmers seeking additional information about the transition or grain marketing opportunities can contact the Central Ontario FS Ayr office or speak directly with grain originators Owen Roberts and Chad Homick.
As consolidation and investment continue across the grain handling sector, the acquisition signals continued confidence in Ontario agriculture and highlights the importance of reliable local infrastructure for supporting farm businesses and regional grain markets.