CHS and Elburn Cooperative form jv agronomy company
St. Paul-based CHS Inc. and Elburn Cooperative, an integrated grain and ag retail company headquartered in Sycamore, Ill., announced on June 13 that they have created a joint venture company that will offer agronomy retail products and services. The new company will be based out of the existing CHS crop nutrients operation in Crescent City, Ill.
CHS will continue to operate its wholesale fertilizer business from the Crescent City location. Current CHS wholesale operations staff, along with new retail sales and other operations employees, will be ready to serve area farmers in early September 2013. Modifications to the current load-out capacity and office building will be completed before then, along with delivery of custom application equipment and product inventory.
“We are excited to work with a partner like Elburn Cooperative that shares our focus on providing local expertise and exceptional customer service,” said John McEnroe, executive vice president, CHS Country Operations. “Working together is one more way we stay true to helping our owners grow.”
In business since 1921, Elburn Cooperative is a full-service supplier of agronomy, feed, seed, energy, and grain marketing services. The company operates 12 locations in north-central Illinois and south-central Wisconsin.
“Expanding our retail geographic footprint to Crescent City fits our company’s strategic growth plan very well,” said John Husk, CEO and general manager of Elburn Cooperative. “Having CHS as our partner in this venture is very exciting. We look forward to bringing Elburn’s advanced toolbox of retail agronomy solutions to the area to help those growers succeed.”