Kingsley, Mich.-Kingsley Co-operative, a part of agriculture in this area for almost 100 years, will no longer exist after Nov. 1. That’s the date set for auctioning off what’s left of this town landmark, which closed its doors earlier this month after operating at the same location in downtown Kingsley since 1919. “It’s been so slow for a long time, it kind of outlived it usefulness really,” Rick Van Pelt, president of the board and a longtime farmer in Kingsley, told the local press. “The whole world is changing all the time and that thing’s been there a hundred years.” Brenda Bigelow, co-op manager for the past 5 1/2 years, was still on the job last week to say there’s not much inventory left for the auctioneer. “We’re out of fertilizer, grass seed, field grain and bagged feed,” she offered. “It pretty much amounts to the lawn and garden and pet supplies. There may be some interest in the mixer, scales and other equipment.” The surrounding area has slowly changed to residential, but Bigelow said there’s been no real operating problems except being squeezed for space on only a half-acre, which didn’t leave room for parking or for semis to turn around. Now, except for a few nearby individuals who have mixers, many farmers will have to drive to Traverse City 10 miles away, McBain 30 miles away, or other towns for their fertilizer supplies. She says there’s a good chance the property will be torn down for redeveloping. One party, however, may be interested in using the warehouse for processing canola grain into ethanol.
Transparency Across the Fertilizer Value-Chain