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BNSF to gain grain traffic from new terminals in Kansas, Wisconsin 

6/24/2025
Located on a 40-acre site, ALCIVIA's new Hager City terminal features more than 20,000 linear feet of mainline track on a BNSF line and storage space for 3.9 million bushels of grain. ALCIVIA

By Jeff Stagl, Managing Editor 

BNSF Railway Co. already handles more agricultural product shipments than any other U.S. railroad and has served grain producers in the nation for over 170 years.

Yet, the Class I continues to build grain traffic. For example, more carloads are on the horizon because of two new grain facilities along BNSF’s network in the Plains and Midwest. 

In late May, the railroad moved its first shuttle train loaded with corn from ALCIVIA's newly constructed grain terminal in Hager City, Wisconsin. That came two months after the first inbound trains of fertilizer began to roll into Central Valley Ag’s (CVA) new grain shuttle facility and agronomy plant complex in Courtland, Kansas. 

A member-owned agricultural and energy cooperative, ALCIVIA completed its state-of-the-art rail loading grain terminal in west-central Wisconsin in mid-March. The Hager City facility became fully operational in May.  

Located on a 40-acre site, the terminal features more than 20,000 linear feet of mainline track on a BNSF line and storage space for 3.9 million bushels of grain, mostly corn and soybeans.  

BNSF shuttle trains with 110 to 116 hopper cars will move grain from Hager City primarily west to points in Texas and California. The Class I expects grain volume to fluctuate at the terminal. 

Many area farmers in west-central Wisconsin and southeast Minnesota use barges to transport their grain along the Mississippi River, and some need to truck it to terminals that are located an hour or two from their farms. 

BNSF will move 110- to 116-car grain shuttles from Hager City primarily west to points in Texas and California. BNSF Railway Co.

The Hager City terminal is more centrally located and provides farmers access to destinations well beyond the river, such as Texas, the Pacific Northwest and Mexico, ALCIVIA officials say. 

In addition, the river can ice over in late fall and winter, leading some grain terminals to close and ceasing grain shipments for a number of months. ALCIVIA’s terminal will be operational year-round, so grain can be hauled at all times, company officials say. 

ALCIVIA developed the facility to offer area farmers the speed, capacity and market access they need for their grain products, says ALCIVIA President and CEO Jim Dell. 

“This facility is a game-changer for the region. It gives farmers much-needed year-round access to diverse markets, plus the community benefits from increased tax revenue and economic activity,” he says. 

The Hager City terminal now provides ALCIVIA with three Class I-served grain facilities in Wisconsin. A facility in Fall River is served by Canadian Pacific Kansas City and a facility in Evansville is served by Union Pacific Railroad.  

In addition, ALCIVIA’s terminals have access to the Mississippi and Illinois rivers, positioning the company for optimal logistical and arbitrage opportunities, ALCIVIA officials say. 

The co-op plans to eventually expand services at the Hager City terminal to include a 24-hour, unattended liquid fertilizer loading terminal and rail liquid propane unloading and storage. Those additional services would further streamline operations for farmers, saving time and improving productivity, ALCIVIA officials say. 

BNSF worked with ALCIVIA to ensure a seamless integration into the Class I’s network by meeting specific engineering, operational and safety objectives, BNSF officials say. ALCIVIA will maintain the terminal’s track with assistance from the Class I. 

CVA also received assistance from BNSF, including help with site selection, to develop its grain shuttle facility and agronomy plant in Kansas. CVA plans to hold an open house on July 28 to mark the completion of the complex, which is expected to begin fully operating in summer. 

The grain facility will feature a high-speed shuttle loader on a loop track with seamless access to a BNSF line and on-site storage facilities that can hold about 5.5 million bushels.  

The facility will be able to receive and unload unit trains of fertilizer, and load and ship unit trains of grain, including corn, wheat, soybeans and milo. The unit trains will pull 100 to 116 cars. 

The agronomy plant will house a state-of-the-art, 3.5 million-gallon liquid fertilizer plant — which is designed to receive product via rail or truck — and a chemical and seed warehouse. 

In July, Central Valley Ag plans to load four corn unit trains at its new grain shuttle facility in Courtland, Kansas. The complex also includes an agronomy plant.Central Valley Ag

The new complex will enable CVA to streamline its operations, optimize logistics and enhance efficiency, enhance its liquid fertilizer supply chain to meet member-owners’ needs and access the best markets for grain, co-op officials say. 

By consolidating essential agronomy services under one roof, CVA aims to simplify the procurement process for farmers while ensuring the highest standards of quality and service, they added. 

The office area and agronomy plant were completed in Courtland in late May. Agronomy operations now are in full swing, with fertilizer and crop protection products actively being supplied, CVA officials say. 

Construction continued to progress at the grain shuttle site, with the grain receiving building nearing completion. Equipment testing was anticipated to start in mid-June, with grain intake operations beginning in late June. CVA anticipates loading four corn unit trains at the shuttle facility in July. 

BNSF currently serves six CVA grain train loading facilities in Nebraska. In neighboring Kansas, the Class I serves 21 grain shuttle train loading facilities, including some that access short lines.