Willard Agri-Service, a Maryland-based ag retail company with five locations in the Mid-Atlantic region, will be joining online farm inputs retailer CommoditAg, according to a Dec. 22 announcement from Farmers Edge Inc., the Winnipeg-based digital agriculture company that purchased CommoditAg last August (GM Aug. 20, 2021).
Farmers Edge said this new alliance will extend the reach of the CommoditAg fulfillment centers into the Northeast, bringing farmers a broad selection of over 200 agricultural products from more than 50 suppliers. Willard placed 59th in the latest CropLife 100 ranking of the largest U.S. ag retailers.
“We are extremely excited about this partnership with CommoditAg,” said Mike Twining, VP of Sales and Marketing at Willard. “We are committed to growing in the digital agriculture space as it continues to evolve and mature. By working with CommoditAg, we can expand our reach, enhance services, and deliver our high-quality agricultural products with more convenience.”
Since its launch in December 2017 (GM Jan. 8, 2018) by founding partners The Equity in Effingham, Ill., and Sunrise Cooperative in Norwalk, Ohio, CommoditAg has grown its e-commerce platform to include 14 retail distribution partners with more than 500 locations in the U.S. The company offers a broad portfolio of agricultural products, including crop protection, seed, fertilizer, agricultural lubricants, micronutrients/biologicals, and animal nutrition.
“We are always on the lookout for great retailers to join us in serving growers, wherever they may be,” said John Demerly, President of CommoditAg. “A respected enterprise like Willard brings the expertise and integrity we value in a partner, and we look forward to helping farmers in the Northeast thrive and grow in the coming years.”
CommoditAg was acquired for Farmers Edge in August for a purchase price of US$4.6 million on closing, plus an earn-out to a maximum of US$7.2 million of additional cash based upon the business meeting certain performance targets over the next three years. CommoditAg now serves as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Farmers Edge.
“By working with Willard, we can provide farmers with more options to access quality agricultural products, without leaving the farm,” said Wade Barnes, Farmers Edge CEO and Founder. “Like us, Willard is committed to continuously adapting to meet the needs of farmers and ensure their success, making this an ideal partnership as we continue to deliver on our mission of developing a fully-connected digital agricultural ecosystem.”