Worries and speculation are beginning to swirl regarding the closing of Eudora’s lone grain elevator.

Area farmers said Tuesday that they were concerned about a potential lack of grain storage in the area as they get ready to begin their first winter wheat harvest since the elevator closed in mid-2003.

Farmers said they expected existing grain elevators in Lawrence and Kansas City would be able to handle the grain produced from the harvest. But if this fall’s harvest produces a bumper crop, area farmers may struggle to find a place to quickly sell their crops.

“We’re worrying about the fall crop big time,” said Mark Neis, a Eudora-area farmer. “My problem is I don’t have any storage bins on my property. I have sat in lines (at the elevator) for four or five hours in Kansas City. That causes the combines to stop, and when the combines aren’t running, you aren’t making any money.”

Neis said there were rumors in the community that an individual was close to buying the elevator and renting out its storage bins to area farmers.

Attempts to reach Jim Carpenter, the elevator’s owner, were unsuccessful. Carpenter closed the elevator in October, citing health reasons for his decision.