Growmark Inc. of Bloomington, Ill., recently signed a letter of intent to buy the assets of Huisinga Grain Inc. of Casey, Ill., and Willow Hill Grain Inc. of Willow Hill, Ill.
Huisinga, family-owned since 1955, serves the counties of Cumberland, Coles, Clark, Edgar, Jasper, and Crawford from one facility in Casey.
Willow Hill, family-owned since 1968, operates six facilities serving the counties of Jasper, Crawford, Clay, and Effingham.
The decision to purchase the assets came from a study of present and future grain dynamics across the state of Illinois. Growmark said the acquisition of these two well-respected operations will better position Growmark to provide the services Illinois grain producers require.
Growmark is planning to partner with two of its member cooperatives, Effingham-Clay Service Co., Effingham, Ill., and Wabash Valley Service Co., Grayville, Ill., in running the assets. The new partnership will be called Total Grain Marketing LLC (TGM) and is expected to be finalized in September.
Wabash Valley will integrate the Willow Hill plant food and crop production services into existing operations. “Our partnership with Effingham-Clay Service Co. and Growmark will strengthen our long-standing commitment to provide the best crop production products and recommendations in our territory,” says Wabash Valley Service Co. General Manager Todd Neibel. Wabash Valley provides farm supply products and related crop production services in the Illinois counties of Crawford, Edwards, Gallatin, Hamilton, Jasper, Lawrence, Richland, Wabash, Wayne, and White.
Effingham-Clay will integrate its current grain operations into those of TGM. “Our partnership with Wabash Valley Service Co. and Growmark will provide additional grain storage options, more end-user markets, and will strengthen the package of grain services we provide our producers,” said Effingham-Clay General Manager Randy Handel. Effingham-Clay serves the Illinois counties of Clay, Coles, Cumberland, Effingham, Marion, Moultrie, and Shelby, and provides grain marketing services, farm supply products, and related crop production services.