Abstract: A rod handling system for a drilling rig includes a rod storage bin incorporating vertically stacked rod supports adapted to hold a respective row of rods in side by side relationship in a substantially horizontally extending storage configuration. A rod loader having a plurality of rod holders is moveable between a loading position in which a rod can be placed into or removed from each rod holder, and a transfer position in which the rods are transferable between each rod holder and a respective rod support of the rod storage bin A rod lifter is moveable between a lowered position and a raised position for lifting rods between the storage configuration and a raised configuration to present rods to a drilling head. A rod transfer assembly can transfer individual rods between selected rod supports of the rod storage bin and the rod lifter.