AGI Realigns Manufacturing to Deliver Storage Solutions Closer to U.S. Farmers

Business

AGI Realigns Manufacturing to Deliver Storage Solutions Closer to U.S. Farmers

2026-06-10 10:37 Last Updated At：10:41

CLAY CENTER, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 9, 2026--

Ag Growth International Inc. (“AGI”) today announced a multi-million dollar investment in its Clay Center, Kansas facility to add U.S. production of 4-inch corrugated farm grain bins and strengthen its North American manufacturing network.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260609246825/en/

The project is part of AGI’s long-term strategy to align production with customer demand across key grain-growing regions—enhancing responsiveness, increasing production speed, and delivering high-quality storage solutions closer to the U.S. farm customers

AGI’s Clay Center facility currently produces a wide range of grain handling equipment, including augers, bin unloads, bucket elevators, towers, catwalks, portable and stationary chains and paddles, as well as incline drag and En Masse conveyors.

“This project reflects AGI’s commitment to strengthening and balancing our North American manufacturing footprint around where our customers operate,” says Paul Brisebois, President and CEO of AGI. “Adding bin capacity in the heart of the U.S. grain belt aligns production closer to the customer—improving responsiveness, strengthening supply chain resilience, and enhancing how we serve farmers and dealers.”

The Clay Center expansion brings farm storage production back to the United States—strengthening AGI’s ability to serve customers with greater speed, efficiency and consistency. Together with AGI’s St. Boniface, Manitoba facility, it will increase overall bin capacity and create a more flexible, integrated North American manufacturing network.

Beyond its operational impact, the bin expansion reinforces AGI’s long-term commitment to economic development in Clay Center, Clay County and the State of Kansas.

Mike Baker, Plant Manager, AGI Clay Center, says the expansion will support regional workforce growth as new capabilities come online.

“This is an exciting step forward for our team and our community,” says Baker. “We expect to begin bin production in the Spring of 2027, creating new jobs and building on the strong foundation here at Clay Center to support continued growth.”

The Clay Center facility has a long history of manufacturing excellence. Established in 1958 as Hutchinson Manufacturing, Inc., the site became part of AGI in 2017. In April 2026, the facility earned AGI’s highest safety recognition— the Safety Standout Award —for achieving three consecutive years with no lost-time injuries.

The investment supports long-term growth while reinforcing AGI’s role as a reliable domestic manufacturer and trusted partner to farmers across North America. For more information about AGI and its global safety initiatives, www.aggrowth.com

AGI Company Profile

AGI is a provider of the equipment and solutions needed to support the efficient storage, transport, and processing of food globally. AGI has manufacturing facilities in Canada, the United States, Brazil, India, France, and Italy and distributes its product worldwide.

Evette and Wilson advance to runoff for South Carolina governor while Graham clinches nomination

GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and state Attorney General Alan Wilson advanced to a runoff for the Republican nomination for South Carolina governor, while U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham won his own primary outright Tuesday in his pursuit of a fifth term in November.

President Donald Trump early on gave his endorsement of Graham, a political confidant and regular golfing partner of the president, despite their on-again, off-again relationship. Graham also secured the support of some leading state Republicans, Sen. Tim Scott and Gov. Henry McMaster, to plow a path to another nomination.

Addressing Trump in his victory speech, Graham said "I’m going to help you change this world and change this country.” He has been outspoken in favor of military action against Iran.

No Democrat has won a U.S. Senate seat in South Carolina in decades, and Republicans in recent history typically have taken statewide seats by double-digit margins. When he last ran in 2020, Graham defeated his Democratic opponent by a 10 percentage point margin. This year, he’ll face Charleston pediatrician Annie Andrews in November.

For Evette, gaining a runoff berth in the governor's race comes only a week after picking up Trump's endorsement. She will face Wilson in the June 23 primary. Others in the race included U.S. Reps. Nancy Mace and Ralph Norman.

Evette lost no time in attacking Wilson in front of cheering supporters Tuesday night with a runoff just two weeks away.

“We are going to stand up for conservative voices and conservative values. I have never, I will never back down to the woke mob. Over these next two weeks we’re going to highlight a very clear contrast between myself and a career politician, Alan Wilson,” she told her election watch party.

Wilson has served as the state’s top prosecutor since 2011, taking actions to support Trump’s political and personal moves. In 2024, Wilson traveled to New York to support Trump as he stood trial in a hush money case. He is the son of longtime U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson.

The state attorney general also praised all fellow candidates in the primary who didn’t win Tuesday and said they all can have a home with him, while urging voters to his side — even if he wasn't their “first choice” on Tuesday.

“Hire me to be your next governor. I will be a fighter for you," he said.

Competition among Republicans for Trump’s support seemed more intense than any other facet of the primary campaign.

Even before Evette received the president's endorsement, she frequently featured photos and videos of herself with Trump in campaign materials. She was backed by McMaster, the term-limited outgoing governor, a longstanding ally of Trump whose support telegraphed the president's own.

Mace also wanted Trump's support, and he endorsed her congressional reelection in 2024 even though she criticized his actions of Jan. 6, 2021, when his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol.

Norman, among the most conservative members of the House and a member of the Freedom Caucus, strongly supported Trump in the president’s first term. But in the 2024 campaign, Norman stumped for former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley instead of Trump.

Rom Reddy, a coastal businessman who has eschewed campaign donations and self-funded his effort, had touted his lack of political experience as an asset, drawing comparisons between Trump and himself.

South Carolina’s other top contest Tuesday saw Graham clinching the Republican nomination without need of a runoff.

Although their relationship has undulated through the years, Graham has remained close with Trump, who fulfilled the senator's longstanding wish for direct confrontation between Washington and Tehran. Graham cheered Trump’s decision to strike nuclear sites last year and recently said he often speaks to the president about the ongoing conflict.

Among Graham's primary foes was Greenville businessman Mark Lynch, who said Graham wasn't conservative enough to represent the state. Calling himself an “America First” candidate, Lynch campaigned as a Trump supporter. However, the president has called him a “lunatic” and a “disaster for the Republican Party."

Democrats haven’t won the governor’s office or a Senate seat in South Carolina for decades.

Andrews, the Charleston pediatrician, ran unsuccessfully against Mace in 2022. Now running for Senate against Graham, she's challenged what she’s characterized as Graham’s waffling positions over the course of his political career.

She is among the Democrats hoping to capitalize on dissatisfaction with Trump this year.

In the governor's race, state Rep. Jermaine Johnson won the Democratic nomination.

Johnson has represented a district in the Columbia area for three terms. Seen as a rising star in the state party, Johnson was tapped to give this year’s Democratic response to McMaster’s state of the state address. McMaster has been in office since Nikki Haley left her term early to join the first Trump administration.

Democrats have not won a general election for governor in South Carolina since 1998, and Republicans have controlled all statewide-elected offices in the state for more than a decade.

In other results, James Clyburn clinched the Democratic nomination for the U.S. House in South Carolina’s 6th Congressional District while Joe Wilson — Alan Wilson's father — won the Republican nod for the U.S. House in South Carolina’s 2nd Congressional District.

Also Tuesday, in other U.S. House primaries, Eunice Lehmacher won the Democratic nomination in South Carolina’s 3rd Congressional District; John Peterson won the Republican nod in the 6th district; William Timmons secured the GOP nomination in the 4th district, and Mallory Dittmer won the Democratic nomination for the 5th district.

Additionally, David Stumbo and Stephen Goldfinch advanced to a Republican primary runoff for attorney general in South Carolina.

This story has been corrected to show Jermaine Johnson won the Democratic nomination outright for South Carolina governor and is not entering a runoff.

Collins reported from Columbia, South Carolina.

Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://x.com/MegKinnardAP