Two Iowa cooperatives – Central Counties Cooperative (CCC) based in Reinbeck, and Heartland Co-op of West Des Moines – recently completed a merger that has created one of the largest producer-owned cooperative entities in the country.
The merger was finalized July 1 after an affirmative vote by members in March. The new combined enterprise is operating under the Heartland Co-op name, and is headquartered in West Des Moines. The new Heartland Co-op is expected to have annual sales of more than $560 million, with some 41 locations now under the company umbrella.
“I’m very excited about the merger of our two cooperatives,” said Heartland CEO/General Manager Larry Peterson in recent company newsletter. “This gives Heartland advantages that will allow for a sustainable future as we continue to provide products and services that bring value for our combined customer base. With the unparalleled growth of the ethanol industry in Iowa and uncertainties that are being created, this proactive business combination will allow our newly formed cooperative to meet the changing demands of our customer base.”
The merger brought 11 additional agronomy locations and 75 CCC employees to the Heartland enterprise in central Iowa, bringing the total employee count at the company to 340. Along with its main location at Reinbeck, CCC had locations at Gilman, Grundy Center, Holland, Kellogg, Laurel, Lincoln, Newburg, Pickering, Traer, and Washburn.
“We bring together two customer focused, profitable cooperative entities that are well respected in the industry,” Peterson said at the time of the merger completion. “We now have a unique opportunity to be a part of developing an even better company that brings added value to our customer members.”
The merger with CCC is the largest in Heartland’s history. Heartland got its start in 1987 with the merger of three central Iowa co-ops with facilities in Panora, Dallas Center, Minburn, and Granger. Mergers and acquisitions since then have added all or part of the Booneville Cooperative Elevator Company, Laverty Elevators in Indianola, Alleman Cooperative Company, Mitchellville Cooperative, the Avon Grain Company, the Enterprise Elevator, Central Iowa Farm Service, Baer Ag Inc., Rippey Farmers Cooperative, and the Farmers Cooperative Elevator Company of Waukee.
Heartland’s full-service agronomy offerings include 36 sales agronomists, 20 of which are CCA certified; numerous seed lines; liquid and dry fertilizer products, including ammonia, UAN, urea, phosphate, potash, micronutrients, and lime; bulk, mini-bulk, and packaged agri chemical products; liquid, dry, and variable rate custom application services; and field scouting, soil sampling, and precision ag services.
In addition to Peterson, other management personnel at Heartland include executive vice presidents Dave Coppess, sales and marketing; Terry Frahm, administration and finance; Tom Hauschel, grain and risk management; and Marc Melhus, operations.