On Jan. 2, 2025, Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ closed on its acquisition of West Central Ag Services, a cooperative based in Ulen, Minn. By coming together as one cooperative, Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ and West Central Ag Services will directly connect more producers to the global supply chain and provide more value to producer-owners.
The former West Central Ag Services has joined the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ supply chain as a new ag retail business unit called . All locations will remain operational and grain and agronomy services will continue to be available.
The business unit will remain based in Ulen and Jesse McCollum, former West Central Ag Services CEO, will serve as senior director of operations.
“This is an exciting time for our owners and our cooperative as we join Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ and become part of the global supply chain through Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥,” says McCollum. “We are thrilled to be part of the nation’s leading farmer-owned cooperative to serve farmers in west-central Minnesota for generations to come.”
All West Central Ag Services employees were offered employment with Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ as part of the sale and the local management team will continue to manage Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ West Central. The producer board that served West Central Ag Services will also remain in place.
Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ and West Central Ag Services had a 50-50 joint venture called Central Plains Ag Services, based in Hannaford, N.D. The joint venture is now wholly owned by Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ and it has become part of the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ ag retail business unit located in Devils Lake, N.D.
“Joining Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ was the right fit for us,” says McCollum. “West Central Ag Services and Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥ have had a strong relationship for many years based on aligned visions to advance the cooperative system, serve our owners better and create more value for owners. Now we will do that as one cooperative.”
