Coronation Seed Cleaning Co-op Builds on 60 Years of Service with Smart Upgrades and Steady Growth

From wheat-heavy volumes to a revamped treating system, the eastern Alberta co-op continues to boost throughput while preparing for a more automated future.

For more than six decades, the Coronation Seed Cleaning Co-op has stood as a fixture of eastern Alberta’s agricultural landscape. Founded in 1964 and relocated to its current modern facility in 1996, the farmer-owned co-operative continues to deliver reliable, high-capacity seed cleaning and treating services to customers across the region. Today, the plant is co-managed by Glen Hartel and Graham Peterson, who together guide its day-to-day operations and long-term vision.

In recent years, Coronation has seen consistent throughput, cleaning between 1.1 and 1.2 million bushels annually. Hartel notes that this steady climb has been a highlight.

The pedigreed cleaning/bulk storage facility handles a diverse mix of crops, though one stands above the rest.

“Wheat is probably almost half of our cleaning,” Hartel says. “Between hard red spring and soft white wheat, that’s our biggest volume.” Barley, oats, peas and lentils make up much of the remainder, along with some organic cereals and pulses thanks to the plant’s organic certification.