After years of planning and months of construction, a major step forward is coming for farmers in Lewis County and across Southwest Washington. This spring, they’ll finally have access to a local grain hub that will let them store and ship their harvests more efficiently than ever before — thanks to the Southwest Washington Grain Project at the Port of Chehalis.
A New Chapter for Local Farmers
Until now, farmers in the region had grain in storage but lacked a local facility to ship it from. That’s changing quickly. Starting this week, grain is being added to the brand-new silos in Chehalis — not for shipment yet, but for testing purposes. This trial run will help workers check the elevators, conveyor belts, and other machinery before full operations begin in the coming months.
According to Jake Fay, General Manager of the Southwest Washington Growers Cooperative, everything should be fully operational by spring. The first outbound shipment — a load of barley — is expected to leave the port around mid-March.
How the Grain Project Works
The facility includes several large silver grain silos and smaller beige-colored ones. Here’s how each will be used:
- Large Silos: Can store between 500 to 600 tons of traditional grains like wheat and barley.
- Smaller Silos: Hold about 60 tons and are mainly for canola, which will be sent to Eastern Washington to be turned into canola oil. These may also store feed grain when needed.
Grain will be brought in by truck, loaded into the silos, and then transferred onto railcars. This means local farmers can now access rail lines directly, with shipments expected to head to California, Portland, and Kalama, among other locations.
Grain Quality and Use
Not all grain is the same. Some are top-quality and can be sold as export products, while others — especially grain that’s too wet or mixed with weeds — will be sold as animal feed. This flexibility is a big plus for farmers, who now have more options for selling their harvests depending on the grain’s condition.
A Joint Effort for Local Agriculture
The Southwest Washington Grain Project is the result of a strong partnership between three key groups:
- Port of Chehalis
- Southwest Washington Growers Cooperative
- Valley Agrinomics
Together, they broke ground on this project in April 2025. Less than a year later, it’s nearly ready to serve the region’s agricultural community.
As of this week, only a few finishing touches remain — including chutes that will load grain onto trains and trucks. While the facility won’t be getting any taller, behind-the-scenes work continues to get everything ready for daily operations.
A Promising Future for Farmers
Jake Fay shared his excitement about what’s to come. With the silos now taking regular deliveries of grain from around the county, farmers will soon have a powerful new tool to move their products efficiently and cost-effectively.
“It’s definitely going to be good to have it up and running this summer,” Fay said. “It’ll be interesting to see how much product does move through it.”
This grain hub is more than just a set of silos — it’s a long-awaited lifeline for Southwest Washington’s farming community.
