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Business improving at Sukup Manufacturing

Business is improving for a leading grain storage and handling manufacturer.

Kent Creighton, a territory manager for Iowa-based Sukup Manufacturing, says sales are above year-ago levels.

“2016 was a little slower year for us.  Guys had to get used to that lower price.  Let’s be honest about it, when you go from $6 and $7 dollar corn to $3 dollar corn, there’s a substantial change there.  Guys now though are understanding and coming back to the same old practice that we’ve always dealt with: if they can hold onto that grain, a lot of times there’s 40 to 50 cents in the carry.  They can pay for that bin in quick order on that.”

He tells Brownfield farmers also recognize they have to be able to handle more grain.

“These guys are farming a lot more ground, raising a lot more bushels.  So they have to be able to dry that corn faster, get it into their facilities, be able to manage it quicker.”

He says a lot of the farmers he works with are increasing the size of their receiving pits and handling equipment because there aren’t enough drivers to move grain in a timely manner.

Brownfield interviewed Creighton at World Pork Expo in Des Moines.