|
|
History 05/05/10 1:33:15 PMAg cooperatives began to form in this area of the United States in the early 1900s. Cooperatives allowed farmers to join together to collectively market their production, as well as gain from the increased economies of purchasing inputs and supplies in large volumes. North Central Farmers Elevator as it is today is the result of the merger and acquisition of several ag cooperatives along with the purchase of some independent businesses. "The driving force was to do collectively what we can't do independently," said Keith Hainy, general manager. The company has grown astronomically in the last 10 years, and total sales for 2008 reached $454 million. Because cooperatives are farmer and rancher owned, some of the profits get distributed among those who do business at the coop. Portions of the profits are maintained in reserves to ensure the continued operation and upgrading of the cooperative's facilities in order to serve its member owners. North Central Farmers Elevator's members elect a board of directors to oversee the direction of the coop. Today, NCFE employs aproximately 150 full time and 10 part-time workers. An additional 10-15 seasonal employees are added to the workforce in the spring and at harvest. NCFE offers a wide variety of products and services to its customer-owners. While grain handling accounts for about 78 percent of the business, the company also sells seed, fertilizer and chemicals, provides custom application services, handles a complete line of feed through its ownership and partnership with Dakotaland Feeds, LLC in Huron and offers livestock equipment and animal health products. Additionally, NCFE provides bulk oil, gas and diesel to farmers, has multiple facilities that provide retail gas and diesel, and services automobiles and trucks at two of its stations. The cooperative serves farmers form the Missouri River east to Groton and from the southern counties of North Dakota south to U.S. Highway 212. Newsletters and the company's Web site, "www.ncfe.coop", provide information to customers and owners. "Its our communication link to let owners know what's going on with the cooperative," Hainy said. NCFE continues to grow each year. The cooperative recently expanded territory in Lebanon and Hague, N.D. A grain facility was completed in Warner in November and a new agronomy center is set to open there in time for spring planting. A new liquid fertilizer plant at the West Bowdle location is also under construction and set to be ready for spring. The huge volumes of wet grain handled with the 2008 row crop also has NCFE looking to expand drying capablilities to better accommodate similar situations in the future. With the economy this year, we've done a good job of risk management - we had a successful year. We will probably see additinal growth opportunities in the future. We feel the need to continue to try to serve as many customers to the best of our ability as possible. We are going to be set for that growth if the opportunities arise," Hainy said. Several factors have made North Central Farmers Elevator successful. "Our commitment to service, our integrity level and our promise to have the people and programs to help our customers succeed," Hainy said. |
