A grain drier that is in the process of being built in East Perthshire as part of a £3 million development could be one of the biggest in Europe.
East of Scotland Farmers Ltd is expanding its facilities on the outskirts of Coupar Angus and the development will see a 15,000-tonne grain store built, along with three 500-tonne silos to store grain before it is dried.
In addition, a grain drier that is expected to be more than 20 metres tall will be built along with a machinery building to house ancillary equipment and electrical controls.
The seven-acre site contained 35,000 tonnes of storage and had five grain driers of varying capacity.
East of Scotland Farmers bought an additional six acres 15 months ago, obtained planning permission last summer, and is now putting up the buildings on the new site.
Work started last October and is due to be completed in July.
East of Scotland Farmers is owned by some 300 farmers in the Strathmore area.
Its core business is drying, storing and marketing members’ grain mainly malting barley for supply to the Scotch whisky industry.
It applied to the Food Processing Marketing and Cooperation Grant Scheme, administered by the Scottish Government, which will cover up to 30% of the costs.
Large drying capacity is necessary in Scotland because of the country’s damp climate.
David Thompson, UK manager for Cimbria, which is supplying the grain drier, said it will “probably be one of the biggest single driers in Europe”.
He added he is not aware of a bigger one in the UK.
Robin Barron, general manager of East of Scotland Farmers, said: “The new facilities will significantly improve the service we can provide to our members, allowing grain to be dried more quickly after it is harvested, thereby maintaining quality and minimising the time it is held in temporary storage on farms.”
George McLaren, chairman of East of Scotland Farmers, said: “We have been unable to accept new members in recent years because we simply didn’t have room for more grain.
“With the new facilities, though, our membership is open again and we are pleased to be signing up new members once again.”