Shane Fealy is a fifth-generation farmer from Oaklands, in the Riverina region of NSW. He runs a mixed enterprise alongside his father and a full-time employee, growing wheat, barley, and canola across 2000 hectares on heavy black soil country. They usually hold onto their product for up to eight months. Before purchasing storage from Allied Grain Systems, the Fealys had aging silos on farm, and weevils had become a constant source of frustration. Shane says they needed to invest in sealed storage to keep up with changing industry standards.
“Back then, we had plenty of good chemicals, so treating weevils wasn’t a big deal. But fast forward 30 years, they’ve been phased out, and now most markets require grain to come from pesticide-residual-free storage. We deliver to the ports, so the grain must be in top condition when it leaves us,” said Shane. Allied Grain Systems was highly recommended to Shane by a grain fumigation contractor. Our silo sealing system has been independently recognised as one of the best performing in the country, built to exceed the current Australian Standard AS2628. Shane could not look past Allied’s five-year seal guarantee.
“We knew it would be a breeze to treat. Getting that twenty-five grams per cubic metre of gas in there would be simple because the sealing is so good. That was our number one priority,” said Shane. In March 2021, the Fealys purchased one 42’-12’ flat-bottom silo and an X Series 13”-94’ Hydraulic Swing Away Auger. Shane says he loves that Allied’s trough augers aren’t built into the slab. “Our old silos were 30 years old, and the gearboxes and underfloor augers were starting to fail. They were built into the concrete which was a major problem when trying to rebuild them. Having Allied products means that down the track, we will be able to just pull the whole auger trough out and replace it with no drama. That was a big selling point for me,” said Shane. He knew the investment had paid off the first time they dealt with a small amount of weevils after install.
“We noticed the odd one or two when we were about to deliver to Melbourne. We gassed 1200 tonnes quickly and effectively and were back on the road within three days instead of sitting around waiting a month for phosphine fumigation to be done the old-fashioned way,” said Shane. When harvest hit, the benefits spoke for themselves, Shane says everything ran smoother and faster. “With the 13-inch auger, we were moving three tonnes a minute. It kept the headers moving.”
In March 2024, the Fealys acquired a parcel of land 50km away and purchased another 42’-12’ flat-bottom silo. “We wanted to have enough storage to hold up to 90% of our yield in a good season, it just gives us more flexibility. I also didn’t want a heap of silos all the same age. It’s good to stagger them out a bit.” Shane says if you’re in it for the long haul, you must invest in the right infrastructure. “It’s a long-term project. If you’re planning to be here for the next generation, you’ve got to make a start. That’s just the way the industry’s heading. You’ve got to move away from the cheaper, short-term options like silo bags. If you’re overseeing the full delivery at the other end, the whole program needs to run efficiently.”
Shane says working with Allied was seamless from start to finish, from getting the quote to wrapping up the build.
“Brian and Jordan were fantastic…really great to deal with.”
We asked Shane to rate Allied Grain Systems in three key categories. What did he think?
