Purpose built potato cool store sheds have been popular investments over the past twelve months. Growers are looking to mitigate rising off-farm storage costs and increase handling efficiencies
And the infrastructure is proving to be a smart investment.
Growers, rather than being dictated by third parties, have more control over every stage of the process from timing of deliveries and maintaining seed quality to managing costs such as storage, freight and labour.
Pat Hope from Euston Park is taking advantage of these benefits with his Action on-farm potato cool store shed.
You can learn about his experience in the video below.
Then read on to learn about the project in detail, including a handy price guide for project budgeting.
Pat Hope on His Experience Building A Potato Cool Store Shed With Action
About Euston Park
Pat Hope, along with his father Kevin, purchased Euston Park in 2005.
Over the last twenty years they have transformed the property into a thriving 7,000-acre enterprise, growing potatoes along with a cropping rotation of wheat, barley, lentils and lupins.
With no water supply, this has been no small feat and involved constructing an irrigation system to pump water around 9.2 km from the Murray River!
Fast forward to 2023, and a fit-for-purpose on-farm potato cool store shed was the logical next step in Euston Park’s journey.
Project Overview
Configuration: Enclosed cool stores with undercover packing and sorting area.
Size: 49.5m (L) x 36m (W) x 8.6m (H)
Cool Store Fit-Out: Refrigeration and storeroom technology by Tolsma Australia. Panelling by Mildura-based Transcool.
Build Date: 2024
Location: Euston NSW
You can view more of the latest Action farm shed builds across NSW in this brochure – NSW Farm Sheds Brochure (PDF Download)
What The Potato Cool Store Shed Achieves For Euston Park
Having on-farm storage provides Pat and Kevin with cost savings, time -savings and full control over seed quality. This makes smart, proactive management decisions easier.
Here’s how.
1
Reduced Storage Costs
Before investing in the new potato cool store, Pat was leasing an off-site storage facility.
With the cost of leasing the facility increasing and substantial freight movements between the sites, the expense and logistics of off-farm storage were limiting growth and becoming an unsustainable long-term solution for Euston Park.
2
Increased Labour Efficiency
Recruiting and training seasonal workers a significant challenge for the industry. So, investing in on-farm storage and embracing automation has been a game changer for Euston Park.
Speaking with Tolsma about the Optical Sorter, Pat shared; “We now load two B-Doubles in two hours instead of three hours, with four fewer staff. So, we can do more, in less time with less labour.”
Pat also points out that technology provides consistent output and results by removing fatigue and human error from the equation.
You can read Pat’s full interview with Tolsma, here – Euston Park: A Journey Of Transformation.
Plus, he provides some sound advice such as: “eat more chips.” (If you have enjoyed a packet of Smith’s chips recently, there’s a fair chance the potatoes were grown by Pat!)
3
Full Quality Control With Zero Disruptions
Euston Park’s cool store is designed for long-term storage of seed potatoes.
This allows Pat to receive seed delivery well in advance of planting and have seed on hand ready to take advantage of prime planting conditions.
“Before we have to haul seed 30 kilometres south, a two-hour round trip for just 40 bins, disrupting other work just to load the coolroom. Now it’s delivered straight to us, and Dad or I can load the store at our own pace.”
This control extends from the storage period to throughout the planting period. Pat and Kevin are able to respond to the weather conditions by either warming the potatoes to soil temperature for planting or keeping the seeds cool and in peak condition until the time is right.
Why The Potato Cool Store Shed Works
As with any construction project, several factors contribute to a successful end result for Euston Park, from working with the right people to a well-planned layout.
1
A Purpose-Built Facility
Investing in a purpose-built potato cool store facility is a proven way to make sure you can capitalise on the advantages of on-farm storage.
This is why Euston Park’s cool store rooms were solely designed for keeping potatoes at the right temperature to allow them to be stored long-term.
2
Successful Collaboration
A large part of Euston Park’s project success can be attributed to the three-way collaboration between Action, Transcool and Tolsma. The three companies worked with Pat from the initial planning stage through to installation and sign-off.
The time spent addressing the details paid off.
“I’m glad we had the collaboration because now we have a highly functional and high-quality facility for us to utilise for the next however many years.”
3
Embraces Technology
The technology Pat has invested in is impressive – from temperature, humidity and CO2 level probes to the Tolsma Optical sorter and cool stores.
Speaking with Tolsma, Pat highlights the importance of embracing technology for sustainable business growth and confident decision-making:
“Investing in good technology deepens your understanding of the product that you are producing, helping you make informed decisions that drive efficiency and maintain quality. As volumes grow, reliability becomes even more critical.”
4
Standard Design
The potato cool store shed for Euston Park was designed to fit seamlessly in with the existing shed infrastructure.
The challenge? To create a cost-effective and functional shed within these parameters.
The solution? To use tried-and-tested 9-metre bay spacings and a standard 36-metre span.
These proved practical and saved time and money for Pat in the manufacturing and installation stages.
You can learn more about the standard span range and the benefits here – What Are The Standard Spans For Farm Sheds?
5
Well-Planned Access
A potato cool store shed is a high-traffic area throughout the year, particularly at planting and harvest.
As a result, well-planned access points and site layout is essential for safe and efficient logistics.
Pat has addressed this with a clear, well-prepared site and several design details.
For example, a girder truss has been used to remove a column and provide a double bay opening.
And the open gable end provides a cost-effective 36 metre wide opening.
So, how much does it cost to build a cool store shed?
If you are planning a similar project, next up is a handy price guide.
Project Price Guide
A similar potato cool store project would cost approx. $350,000 – $450,000 including GST, delivery and installation.
Please note that this is an approximate price guide only and does not include the concrete slab and cool store fit-out costs.
For accurate pricing for your project, please call us on 1800 687 888 or submit a REQUEST A QUOTE form and we will be in touch!
Project Gallery
Lester was onsite at Euston Park at seeding time to sign off and photograph the cool store facility.
Check out some of our favourite photos in the gallery below.
That’s a wrap on Euston Park’s new potato cool store shed! We hope this has provided ideas and inspiration or your project – we have also listed some additional resources below.
Useful Resources
- What Is The Recommended Concrete Slab Thickness? How Much Will It Cost?
- 5 Smart Concrete Slab Ideas
- Your Top Farm Shed Questions, Answered (Video)
- How To Budget For Your New Shed Build
Do you have an on-farm storage shed project on the cards? Planning a potato cool store, onion drying shed or packing facility?
Book a consultation with one of our Building Consultants for project-specific advice and best-practice recommendations. Call us on 1800 687 888 – we would love to hear from you!
And if you are heading to Hort Connections, catch up with the Action team at Stand 43!
