By Susan Green, BNSF Staff Writer 

The new facility on the BNSF network includes upright grain storage space for 3.9 million bushels and gives producers year-round, greater market access. 

As the adage goes, when one door closes, another opens. In this case, the closed door was a former rail-loading frac sand site in Hager City, Wisconsin, that supported oil and gas extraction. As demand within the Wisconsin sand market evolved, the facility remained unused for several years. 

When ALCIVIA, a member-owned farm supply and grain marketing cooperative, came knocking, BNSF Railway was excited to begin a new partnership—and the door opened for a new state-of-the-art rail loading grain terminal. That facility celebrated the completion of construction with a ribbon-cutting ceremony March 12. 

The 40-acre site has more than 20,000 linear feet of mainline track, which allows the facility to reach markets across BNSF’s 32,500-mile network.  

With access to year-round rail shipping, ALCIVIA will have the flexibility to sell and move grain during the winter months when other terminals are closed. “As we look to bring solutions to producers, we can’t express how important it is to give them market access 12 months out of the year instead of four to five months,” said ALCIVIA CEO and President Jim Dell. “Year-round access means producers can better manage risk and respond to market volatility by moving grain when it makes the most sense for their operation—not just when terminals are open.”  

Features of the new grain facility include upright grain storage space for 3.9 million bushels serviced by two 4,700-bushel per hour grain dryers and three 1,500-bushel capacity dump pits that will move grain at a combined handling speed of 60,000 bushels per hour. 

Once the grain—mainly corn and soybeans—is ready for market, BNSF shuttle trains, made up of approximately 110-116  hopper cars, will enter the facility for loading, which will take about 10 hours. From Hager City, the BNSF trains will move primarily west to Texas and California.  

“In collaboration with ALCIVIA, BNSF used our rail development expertise to ensure seamless integration into our network by meeting specific safety, engineering and operational needs,” said Group Vice President of Agriculture & Energy Angela Caddell. “ALCIVIA will maintain the track it owns with BNSF working alongside them to uphold common standards for safe, continuous operations.” 

BNSF handles more agricultural product shipments than any other U.S. railroad and has partnered with American grain producers for over 170 years, helping American farmers remain globally competitive.  

This facility will not only give farmers that year-round rail shipping, they’ll also benefit in other ways. “We used to haul our grain as far as Claremont, Minnesota, which is an hour-and-a-half one way,” said local farmer Don Schroeder. “Having this terminal nearby means less time on the road, lower fuel costs and reduced wear and tear on our trucks.” 

Spending less time in the cab also means Schroeder and other farmers will have a better chance of getting home in time for dinner. 

The facility opened in April of 2025. BNSF and ALCIVIA are excited for the operation’s ongoing success together.