ADM invests in Oklahoma grain elevator to strengthen US grain supply chain

USA – ADM, a global leader in innovative solutions from nature, has announced a multimillion-dollar investment to upgrade and expand its grain elevator in Optima, Oklahoma, aimed at boosting facility throughput and streamlining the movement of essential feed ingredients.

Construction on the project is already underway, with full completion targeted for mid-year 2027.

The capital improvement initiative is designed to strengthen supply chain efficiency across North America by significantly cutting train unload times by approximately 50%.

 To achieve these operational gains, ADM is adding 150 railcars of additional track capacity, along with a new rail unloading pit equipped with two hard car diggers.

These infrastructure enhancements will substantially increase the facility’s daily receiving and handling capacity for both corn and corn gluten feed pellets, reducing transit bottlenecks and improving turnaround times for rail shipments.

Situated in the Oklahoma Panhandle, the Optima terminal serves as a vital logistics hub connecting grain production from across the country directly to cattle feeding operations, dairies, and livestock producers in the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandle regions, one of the largest and most concentrated livestock-feeding territories in the United States.

Corn gluten feed pellets, a key byproduct of corn processing, serve as a cost-effective source of protein and fiber for cattle diets, making continuous, high-volume delivery critical for regional animal agriculture.

Tim McHenry, ADM’s Vice President of North America Grain & Feed, emphasized that the Optima facility plays a central role in bridging farm-gate grain supplies with expanding livestock feed demand.

“ADM’s vast North American logistics network connects tens of thousands of farmers to markets, and our Optima facility plays a critical role in connecting grain and feed products from across the country to livestock markets in the Panhandle region,” said Tim McHenry, vice president of North America Grain & Feed.

McHenry noted that demand across the High Plains continues to climb, rendering fast, efficient movement of feed products essential for setting the competitive standard and supporting regional livestock producers.

Beyond throughput gains, company leadership highlighted that the modernization focus extends to worker safety and operational reliability.

Michael Means, ADM’s Vice President of North American Milling and Ag Services Operations, stated that the new equipment and expanded rail capacity will make the entire unloading process safer, more consistent, and adaptable to shifting market requirements.

Across Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas, ADM maintains a strong regional footprint employing nearly 1,200 workers across production facilities, grain elevators, trucking terminals, and port operations.

Sign up to HERE receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.