“Advanced technology solutions are critical for not only helping our ag retail owners improve their operations but in connecting them to the advanced technology tools available through our crop inputs and insights business, WinField United, as well as Land O’Lakes SUSTAIN,” said Chris Policinski, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Land O’Lakes, Inc. “With this investment, we look forward to working with EFC Systems to further develop advanced technology solutions that help agricultural retailers compete and remain relevant in an era of industry consolidation. This investment reflects an expansion of our suite of tools for our members. Our success depends on their success.”
Through this expanded relationship, Land O’Lakes and EFC Systems will work together to bring advanced technologies to the ag retail marketplace.
“With Land O’Lakes’ engagement, we gain a partner in evolving our tools and capacity to continue investing in new modules and solutions that are critical to agricultural retailers’ future relevancy and success with their growers,” said Ernie Chappell, CEO of EFC Systems, Inc. “We have an aligned vision of advancing the technology platforms of retailers.”
EFC Systems provides technology solutions to agricultural retailers for ERP. EFC Systems supports advanced farming practices and enables data connectivity among growers and their agricultural service providers. The company is 29 years old with over 25 years of experience serving agribusiness. The company does business in 47 states as well as Canada.
This is Land O’ Lakes most recent expansion to its business. In March, the company announced it plans to build its own animal feed manufacturing facility in the southeastern U.S., just months after it announced plans to acquire Southern States Cooperative’s feed assets in that same region.
The animal feed manufacturing facility will be built in Roanoke, Virginia, U.S., and start operations in December 2018. It will produce Purina-branded horse and cattle feed as well as other livestock and lifestyle feed.
Land O’Lakes announced in November 2016 that it planned to buy the feed assets of Southern States, an agricultural cooperative providing fertilizers, seed, livestock feed, pet food, animal health supplies and petroleum products.