CHS Acquires 25 Percent Stake in West Central

12 Jan 2015 --- CHS Inc., an energy, grains, and foods company and the nation's leading farmer-owned cooperative, announced it has purchased a 25 percent share of West Central, a full-service wholesale distributor headquartered in Willmar, Minn.

"Investing in West Central is one more way CHS is demonstrating its commitment to help its farmer-owners grow, by providing greater access to products and services across the supply chain," said Rick Dusek, CHS Agronomy vice president. "CHS is the nation's third largest agronomic retailer, and the largest domestic wholesale fertilizer distributor; by investing in West Central, we're gaining access and market share within the crop protection products business segment," said Dusek.

CHS Country Operations Service Centers currently offer producers high-quality crop protection products along with crop nutrients, seed, seed treatments and agronomic services, all backed by knowledgeable local agronomists and the CHS YieldPoint precision ag program. Dusek says by partnering with West Central, CHS will broaden both the scope and availability of those crop inputs, and will look to further expand its crop protection platform.

West Central President Dale Engan said the agreement with CHS is a good fit for the company, which has a 40-year history of helping farm retailers grow their businesses. He says West Central will continue to focus on its retail customer base providing a full range of crop protection products and agronomic services. "This opportunity with CHS supports our strategic plans, which include expanding our distribution and service network to support customers, launching new West Central branded products, and investing in our people," said Engan.

The agreement will provide CHS Country Operations Service Centers with both private-label products marketed under the trusted CHS brand along with West Central's current branded products.