Barn renovation Gateway FS Construction Services customer appreciation

Customer Thank You

Construction is a demanding job. And there is the added pressure of knowing that any given project we’re working on directly affects someone’s home, business, or livelihood. It’s a great feeling to see something through from the very beginning to the end, when it becomes a functional tool for someone to benefit from and use every day. That’s why it means so much to us at Gateway FS Construction Services when a customer takes a moment to share their appreciation.

Recently we received a thank you from our clients Norm and Judy B. about a barn remodel project, and we wanted to share it here.

Gateway FS,

Just a note to say “Thank You” very much to Joe who did amazing work on our old barn.  The old saying “you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear” – Well – Joe can!  He does beautiful work and we appreciate it so much and will enjoy the improvement for years to come.  Our compliments to an amazing craftsman!

Thanks,

Norm and Judy B.

Red Bud

For us, our job is more than simply providing someone with a building or a grain bin, it’s about providing someone with the exact building they need to start their business, or the exact size of grain bin for them to have a successful growing season. The buildings and equipment we install are simply the tools, it’s the people who matter to us. We could install the most beautiful, fully-stocked steel building available, and if it wasn’t what the customer needed, that project would be a failure.

So we just wanted to thank Norm and Judy for their note, because it really does mean a lot to us. We enjoyed the opportunity to work with them, and we always look forward to meeting new clients and figuring out how to help them get exactly what they need.

If you have any questions about our services you can let Gateway FS Construction Services know. You can give us a call at 866-551-3454, and let our specialists help you find exactly what you are looking for. We look forward to providing you the best customer service experience.

Sukup Grain Bin grain storage system grain handling

Project Profile: 30’ Sukup Grain Bin (In Less Than Two Weeks)

For most people, the beginning of January is a time to sleep off holiday meals and hibernate a little bit before the new year really gets going. That wasn’t the case, however, for our clients. These three generations of farmers wanted to get a head start on the year and make sure they had all the equipment needed for the growing season to come. And since we take our clients’ priorities seriously at FS Construction Services, that meant getting out there in January and building a new grain bin.

Over the course of ten days, Nathan Koester and his team constructed this impressive Sukup 30’ diameter grain storage project. At 6 rings tall and with a capacity of 14,116 bushels, this Sukup grain bin will set them up nicely for many years to come. The project also featured concrete finishing of a heavy-duty floor, designed to be extra smooth for ease of sweeping, an axial fan, an incline unload for convenient handling and transfer, and stairs that also attached to an existing drying bin.

At FS Construction Services we always enjoy the opportunity to work with new customers and hear their stories. It was a joy for us to see three generations of family working together, each with their own experience and opinions of what they were looking for, but able to come together with a common purpose in mind and decide on the exact structure they needed going forward.

We were able to take our grain handling and storage construction experience and combine it with the clients’ very specific requirements. Once that process was complete we were able to work with our partner at Sukup to provide the ideal solution. With the design and planning complete, the construction crew took over and completed the project on time, on budget and to the high expectations customers have come to expect from our team.

With over 40 years of experience, we know a thing or two about working as a team to finish a project. If you are interested in expanding your grain storage, or other grain system equipment, you can let Gateway FS Construction Services know. Give us a call at 866-551-3454, and let our specialists help you find exactly what you are looking for. We look forward to providing you the best customer service experience.

Grain storage large bushels

Project Profile: From 0 to 40,000 Bushel Capacity in a Week

At FS Construction Services we know that among the many things a bountiful harvest can bring is the need for more storage space. This was the case recently, with harvest right around the corner, when we were contracted to build a new storage bin. Luckily our team was up to the task, and in exactly one week’s time, our client was up and running with a brand-new grain storage solution.

Nathan Koester, one of our Grain Systems expert, oversaw the construction of the Sukup grain bin. At 42’ in diameter and 9 rings tall, this new structure would provide instant help for the harvest to come with a capacity of 40,000 bushels. Additionally, the grain bin was outfitted with a roof auger, stairs, and an 8” power sweep.

With our team in and out in a week, our client was able to continue preparing for the season to come with the assurance of having all the storage that would be needed. Thanks to our long-lasting partnership with Sukup and our familiarity with their products and equipment, we are able to work quickly and efficiently. This not only guarantees properly set up grain bins and systems, but it also means our clients can get back to their work sooner.

If you are looking to get a jump on the season to come or are in the market for grain drying, grain storage, or grain handling and transfer, let Gateway FS Construction Services know. We work with a number of trusted partners and employ the best in the business. You can give us a call at 866-551-3454, and let our specialists help you find exactly what you are looking for. We look forward to providing you the best customer service experience.

Grain storage bin

Project Profile: A 39’ Tall Grain Bin That Means More

If you spend any time at all driving across the Midwest you’re likely to become very familiar with two sights: fields and grain bins. From a distance, most grain bins look fundamentally the same. And yet, though their appearance may be commonplace, their function is anything but. We build a lot of grain bins at FS Construction Services. But each one is its own unique structure, with its own unique purpose, and we believe it needs to be approached that way.

Early last year at the tail-end of winter, our Grain Systems expert Nathan Koester oversaw the construction of a 21’ in diameter, 39’ tall Sukup grain bin. This 9-ring tall bin also featured stairs, a power sweep, and had a capacity of 9,800 bushels. This taller- and skinnier-than-most grain bin was designed to be used as a wet holding tank to feed a grain dryer.

Though it may not be the flashiest construction we’ve ever done, and it may resemble many other grain bins we’ve built, it was the exact structure our client needed to ensure a successful growing season, simple in appearance, but functional and efficient. Our attitude towards every project that comes our way is how we can make it the best possible version of itself. At FS Construction Services we love a challenge. But we also love the simple, every day projects that allow our clients to do their work and do their work well.

Whether you are looking for something extravagant, basic, custom, or somewhere in between, let Gateway FS Construction Services know. We work with a number of trusted partners and employ the best in the business. You can give us a call at 866-551-3454, and let our specialists help you find exactly what you are looking for. We look forward to providing you the best customer service experience.

Shivvers Link promo

Monitor Your Grain Drying Operation and Save Up To $500

We’ve all had it happen, you have multiple projects running simultaneously but can only be in one place at a time.  That used to be a problem but not anymore.  With SHIVVERS Link, you can now tend to other important needs on your farm while maintaining access to monitor your drying operation – from nearly anywhere.

SHIVVERS Link provides you the opportunity to stay connected with your grain dryer 24/7. All you need is Internet access and you can monitor dryer operation and even review historical information. Shivvers Link can be configured to send text message alerts when limits are reached, or errors arise. Benefits of the SHIVVERS Link system include:

  • Easily Installs in Existing CompuDry Command Center
  • Does Not Require a Land Line Internet Connection
  • Dryer Operational Data Viewable by Smart Phone, Tablet or Personal Computer
  • Historical Dryer Data is Accessible Anywhere You Have Internet Access*
  • Receive Alert Text Messages
  • First Year Data Service Included*
  • Control Dryer Remotely When Used with the SHIVVERS Premier Control Panel
  • Compatible with Android and Apple Smart Phones, Tablets and Personal Computers

Plus, place your order by July 14th and you can receive it equipped with the first year of data service at no cost as well as a certificate for a second year of data at no charge.  That is a savings of $250 per year – and $500 total.

If you are interested in adding remote monitoring capabilities to your operation, then contact the grain system experts at FS Construction Services to find out more.

Let the team of experts at Gateway FS Construction Services help you with all you grain system, wood and steel building, seed treatment and maintenance needs.  You can give us a call at 866-551-3454.  We look forward to providing you the best customer service experience.

*Requires acceptable level of cell data availability.

Monitoring Moisture to Maximize Your Soybean Yield

We know corn harvest has been a mixed bag – and definitely down – this year. As corn harvest progresses, the weather cools and we (hope to) get a bit more rain, now is the time to focus on maximizing your upcoming soybean crop and care for it once it’s in the bin.

Studies at the University of Illinois have shown that the average combine leaves 10 percent of the soybean crop in the field. However, by harvesting at a higher moisture content, these losses can be reduced to 4-5 percent. In addition, market weight (and thus value) decrease about 1.15 percent per point of moisture below 13 percent. Again, there’s a case for maximizing value through moisture.

With the advantages documented at those moisture levels, it’s time to have your grain drying plan ready and in place. Because beans have such high oil content, you’ll want to be especially careful in monitoring your bins every day or two. Even though beans typically only require aeration to get them in proper condition, you’ll still want to monitor airflow and the need for heat.

To review your options and set your plan of attack, we recommend taking a look at the FS Grain Drying Guide on our site. You’ll find 60 pages of information on different drying systems and the specifics for drying corn, soybeans, wheat and milo. The facts in the guide can lead to a true increase in your harvest revenue – something vitally important in challenging growing years such as 2012.

 

Opportunity Arises for Purchasing Grain Systems

With an already wild first half of the year, FS Construction Services strongly suggests that now may be the perfect time to purchase grain drying, storage or handling equipment for your farm. Farmers and landowners have plummeting steel prices to thank for the opportunity.

According to statistics provided by Growmark, since January 2012 multiple costs are down, creating a more plausible reason to make the investment.

  • Scrap is down 19%
  • Cold-rolled coils down 16%
  • Hot-dipped galvanized down 15%
  • Rebar down 13%

Reduced grain production and this dip in steel prices is affecting manufacturers and has created a need to move equipment, such as grain bins, out in order to make room for the new. FS Construction Services offers grain systems products from brands such as GSI, Lowry, Sukup, Grain Handler, Brock and more.

If you’re considering looking ahead and making the investment, we suggest talking with us at FS Construction Services to look at your options. Give us a call today at 866-551-3454, and we’ll help you make the most profitable decision for your situation.

 

 

Farm Storage Facility Loan Program

For some landowners, considering an update in grain systems or upgrade in storage sizing may seem unattainable due to upfront costs and initial investment. But for those who qualify, and many do, the USDA Farm Service Agency offers the Farm Storage Facility Loan Program (FSFL). FSFL provides low-interest financing for producers to build or upgrade their grain storage and handling facilities. With coordination and building from FS Construction Services, off-season promotions from our largest grain system suppliers and FSFL – acquiring a new grain storage structure is possible.

There are multiple factors that contribute to one’s eligibility including qualifying commodity type, approval by the local FSA county committee, structure lifespan of at least 15 years whether new or renovated, as well as security requirements, among others.

The maximum loan amount through FSFL is $500,000 per loan with eligible cost items such as purchase price and sales tax, shipping and delivery, site preparation and installation and attorney or archaeological study fees.

The Grain Systems Department at FS Construction Services not only provides these qualifying facilities from GSI, Brock, Lowry, Sukup, Shivvers and Hutchinson, but we’ll also work with you to begin the FSFL application process. Pursuing these upgrades and updates now ensures profitability and return on investment because of the optimal level at which you can store your grain. Let us work with you to get a plan in place.

For more information on FSFL, visit the Fact Sheet on the FSA section of the USDA website or call us at 866-551-3454 to investigate your options.

Have you found us yet on Facebook? Connect with us to stay updated on services, promotions and industry news.

 

 

Secure Your Grain Storage, Handling and Drying Upgrades Now

With the recent conclusion of harvest and the cold weather now closing in, Gateway FS suggests now as the time to prepare for next season. As you plan your seed orders in the coming months, have you considered the addition of that 20,000-bushel (or larger) grain bin you’ve had an eye on? Or maybe you’ve looked into a new option for your grain drying or handling. Gateway FS encourages you to take the steps towards acquiring those upgrades now.

Many of our suppliers offer premium discount pricing as the year comes to a close and while farmers are considering equipment updates needed for maximized production next season. The sooner you research and secure your purchase, the deeper the discounts you’ll receive. If you’re unsure about which grain system upgrade will be most beneficial, contact our Grain Systems department for help with your decision.

Some of our suppliers offering off-season discounts include:

GSI
Shivvers
Hutchinson
Sukup
Brock
Lowry

For more information regarding the discounts you can receive on your equipment upgrades, contact us today.

Grain Systems – Glen Muench – 866.551.3454 – Email

Grain Systems (Southern) – Nathan Koester – 618.528.2395 – Email