BUSHLAND, TEXAS, US — Ag Producers Co-op has signed an agreement to invest in Skyland Grain, LLC, a Ulysses, Kansas, US-based ag company. The joint venture is set to take effect on April 1.

“Skyland Grain is a unique and evolved cooperative partnership that allows us to provide our member-owners with greater risk management and the benefits of size,” said Gregg Allen, chief executive officer of Ag Producers Co-op. “Culturally, we also fit well together.”

David Cron, CEO of Skyland Grain, added, “Skyland Grain and Ag Producers Co-op are both strong and progressive companies. This relationship will offer outstanding opportunities to all of our farmer-owners across Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, and West Texas. Together, we create a stable and progressive future for our members.”

Skyland Grain, LLC has cooperative roots dating back to 1915, and began operations in August 2004 with Johnson Cooperative Grain Co. and ADM Grain Co. as founding parent companies. On Feb. 1, 2010, Syracuse Cooperative Exchange became part of the joint venture, followed by The Cairo Cooperative Exchange on May 1, 2015. The three co-ops joined together in 2017 to form Skyland Co-op, Inc. In September 2019, Cropland Co-op became a part of the joint venture, making ADM, Skyland Co-op, and Cropland Co-op all owners. Most recently Cropland Co-op’s membership unanimously voted to merge with Skyland Coop, Inc.

Skyland Grain, LLC operates grain receiving facilities in 42 locations across Kansas, Oklahoma, and Colorado with a total licensed grain storage capacity of more than 100 million bushels. The co-op also provides full-service energy and a full-service agronomy department that provides bulk liquid, dry and anhydrous ammonia fertilizers, chemicals, and seed, as well as custom application for fertilizer and chemicals.

Bushland, Texas-based Ag Producers Co-op was formed through multiple mergers and acquisitions, including Sunray Co-op, Olton Grain Co-op, Olton Co-op Gin, United Farm Industries, Inc., Hart Producers Co-op Gin, Bushland Grain Co-op, and Dalhart Consumers Fuel Association. In September 2015, Ag Producers acquired AGCO in Spearman, Texas, US, followed by Robinson Grain in Panhandle, Texas, US, in June 2016.

Ag Producers Co-op is producer owned and producer focused on supply and marketing operations, specializing in grain, cotton, agronomy services, fuel, and retail stores across West Texas. The cooperative operates facilities in 22 locations and has a total licensed grain storage capacity of more than 68 million bushels and three cotton gins.