ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, US — CHS Inc., the largest farmer-owned cooperative and a global agribusiness in the United States, closed on its acquisition of Minnesota cooperative West Central Ag Services on Jan. 2, creating an ag retail business called CHS West Central. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The new CHS business unit will remain based in Ulen, Minnesota, US, and Jesse McCollum, former chief executive officer of West Central Ag Services, will serve as senior director of operations, CHS said. West Central Ag Services operated four grain, nine agronomy and one service locations with a total licensed grain storage capacity of 22.5 million bushels. All locations will remain operational, and grain and agronomy services will continue to be available.

West Central Ag Services employees were offered employment with CHS as part of the sale, which was first announced in November, and the local management team will continue to manage CHS West Central. The producer board that served West Central Ag Services also will remain in place. 

“This is an exciting time for our owners and our cooperative as we join CHS and become part of the global supply chain through CHS,” McCollum said. “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.”

CHS and West Central Ag Services had a 50-50 joint venture called Central Plains Ag Services, based in Hannaford, North Dakota, US. The joint venture is now wholly owned by CHS, and it has become part of the CHS ag retail business unit located in Devils Lake, North Dakota.

“Joining CHS was the right fit for us,” McCollum said. “West Central Ag Services and CHS 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.”

CHS serves customers in 65 countries and employs about 10,000 people worldwide, providing crop inputs, market access and risk management services. The CHS agronomy, grains, foods and energy businesses recorded revenues of about $39 billion in fiscal year 2024.