Winkler, Manitoba Canada | Green Acres Guy - 2/21/2026 11:14
These tanks are coming from Storm Lake, Iowa. We also have 25 1625 grainmax bins that will come from Storm Lake that will go on farms for storage of oats.
Our raw oat tanks are coming from Meridian in Winkler, MB up by you and Jeff. I might have to help you guys help me sneak them across the border at night!! They are a 23 foot diameter with 50 foot sidewall smooth wall tank. With the diameter, they bolt together with flanges on the outside. I liked these over the corrugated bins available locally because of the smooth wall, no bolt protrusion through the sidewalls, more complete cleanout for product segregation, the aeriation system, and less need for employee entry. These will be the first ones of this design in the U.S. I went up to Winkler and looked at one on a farm about 3 miles east of Winkler in December 24 before all of the tariff drama broke out. We made the order, did the down payments on the 1.5M order and then all the drama happened. We have been holding off importing the bins as long as possible due to tariff conditions. They were subject to a 50% tariff so about 600K US dollars (tariff is on materials only, not assembly). I had a call with Meridian Friday about trying to get them here now. They need to be stored inside until they can be put up so we may be emptying a machine shed so we can keep water from getting between sheets until assembly. Delivery direct to the site would be preferred but we can't put them up till foundations are done when the ground thaws and tariffs are such a wildcard. The 15% current is better then the 50% it was before but 0% would be better. It sucks the government can just impose tariffs on products that are already ordered and are not available for local manufacturing.
A few pics of similar bins at a facility in Canada.
Don't think Meridian has produced very many larger bolt together hopper bins. The one just east of Winkler is the only one I know of locally. Probably will continue to be a larger part of production as larger smooth wall bins have more demand and are more practical for shipping. Locally 18' diameter bins have a pretty good shipping corridor that they move in without difficulty and can be delivered and setup with the bin trucks. The 21' welded bins are more problematic with routes and need the help of a crane to tip up. Not sure if they have upgraded some trailers to be able to lift the bins without a crane or whether the bin structure is the problem. We have a number of the 1820 bins and a variety of the smaller ones.
For the most part during my farming career the border and getting ag related machinery across it has largely been just a paper formality with no tariffs. At one time the two countries seemed to be pursuing eliminating the border for the most part. 9/11 in 2001 brought that idea to a screeching halt and security (or at least the optics thereof) has been the priority for the USA since. One can only wish that the present situation will be deescalated and more harmonious relations can prevail.
Hopefully you can get your bins home without taking too big a beating.
|
mill pics 2-20-2026
