Yearly Archives:: 2017

CHS announces equity management decisions


At its September meeting, the CHS Board of Directors made a number of decisions regarding equity management. The following letter from CHS Board Chairman Dan Schurr outlines these decisions:

Dear Cooperative Owner,

CHS was built on the shared values of managing our business with the highest integrity, building lasting and mutually rewarding relationships, and partnering for our collective success.

These values guide every decision your CHS Board of Directors makes on your behalf. Thanks to the dedication and hard work of those owners and employees that came before us, CHS is a cooperative that’s been built for the long haul. Your Board of Directors will ensure that tradition continues. It’s with this spirit that we share recent Board decisions around equity management.

Despite solid performance in our core businesses, a few large events have resulted in substantial fiscal 2017 financial losses in certain patronage-based businesses. These events included a loss attributed to a large producer loan and business unit asset impairments in the United States.

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Phosphate industry expects minor impact from Irma

Loading phosphate at distribution center
There was a small uptick in phosphate sales ahead of Hurricane Irma’s arrival in Florida, where the bulk of North American phosphate production is located. Phosphate facilities there shut down as part of their hurricane preparedness plans.

Early reports from manufacturers are that damage at the facilities appears to be limited, but full assessment will take time. Some finished product has sustained water damage but no exact estimates have been released yet.

A major manufacturer expects to be able to resume production fairly soon, but says its third quarter production volumes could be impacted by the storm disruptions. It had stopped making price offers to either domestic or international customers until late Thursday, Sept. 14. The market has reacted and prices moved up significantly late last week.

Several import vessels of phosphates are arriving in the Gulf this month, including one vessel with CHS cargo, which arrived and was unloaded in between hurricanes. Most of that product is now making its way up the river system.

Staff at CHS terminals are busy filling orders and working with accounts to get product in position before the busy harvest season gets underway across the Cornbelt. CHS is working hard to make sure producers are being kept informed of any supply changes or concerns that might arise from the recent storm damage to production facilities or transportation infrastructure.

Fires, smoke causing livestock health concerns in western ranching communities

Satellite image showing the Pacific Northwest smoke and burning areas

This satellite image shows the Pacific Northwest smoke and burning areas on September 5, 2017. SOURCE: NASA

Western wildfires have much of Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana under a thick blanket of smoke. And while the smoke is cancelling and rescheduling sports activities, it is also causing concern for the state’s ranchers.

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Local students receive CHS Foundation scholarships to pursue careers in agriculture

CHS Interns for 2017

 

The CHS Foundation, funded by charitable gifts from CHS Inc., is committed to developing the next generation of leaders in agriculture. As part of the foundation’s work centered on advancing agriculture education, it has awarded scholarships to six Colorado high school graduates. The Colorado students are among 100 students representing 23 states and Canada. Each will receive a $1,000 scholarship to cover expenses associated with their freshman year of college.

“The success of our hometown communities and rural America depends on students with a strong interest in agriculture to pursue ag-focused degrees and be the innovators to feed the world into the future,” says Nanci Lilja, president, CHS Foundation. “We’re pleased to recognize these students with scholarships and join their communities in looking forward to the important contributions they’ll make to the ag industry.”

These Minnesota high school students are among the 2017 CHS scholarship winners:

  • Erica Earley, Wykoff, Minn.; Northeast Iowa Community College; Agriculture Business and Beef Science
  • Jacey Edlin, Jackson, Minn.; South Dakota State University; Agricultural Education
  • Mikayla Erf, Oakdale, Minn.; University of Minnesota, Twin Cities; Animal Science
  • Dillon Gratz, Atwater, Minn.; South Dakota State University; Dairy Science
  • Kylee Kohls, Litchfield, Minn.; South Dakota State University; Agriculture Education, Communications & Leadership
  • Adam Kroll, Royalton, Minn.; North Dakota State University; Ag Economics
  • Holly Larson; Medford, Minn.; South Dakota State University; Agricultural Education
  • Madeline Patterson, Kenyon, Minn.; North Dakota State University; Agricultural Communication
  • Kourtney Pederson, Farmington, Minn.; Iowa State University; Agribusiness
  • Joshua Schlumpberger, Bowlus, Minn.; University of Minnesota, Twin Cities; Computer Science
  • John Toelle, Brown’s Valley, Minn.; North Dakota State College of Science; Farm Management
  • Jared Troendle, Lanesboro, Minn.; South Dakota State University; Agricultural Business
  • Madeline Weninger, Buffalo, Minn.; South Dakota State University; Agricultural Education
  • Sierra Williamson, Sherburn, Minn.; University of Minnesota, Twin Cities; Agricultural and Food Business Management

An independent, external committee selected recipients based on their career goals, essays, extracurricular involvement, transcripts and reference letters.  In addition to high school scholarships, the CHS Foundation funds an additional 200 scholarships for students enrolled in an agricultural-related program at colleges across the country. These scholarships range from $1,000 to $2,000 and are directly administered by more than 30 CHS partner schools. Click here for more information. 

About the CHS Foundation
The CHS Foundation is funded by charitable gifts from CHS Inc., the nation’s leading farmer-owned cooperative and a global energy, grains and foods company. As a part of the CHS stewardship focus, the CHS Foundation supports organizations that develop future leaders for agriculture through education and leadership programs, improve agricultural safety and enhance community vitality in rural America. Learn more at chsinc.com/stewardship.

CHS Prairie Lakes employee joins Minnesota delegation to Cuba

Cuban corn

Typical corn in Cuba is only used for local, domestic consumption.

CHS Prairie Lakes Sales Manager Erica Boyum recently joined a diverse delegation of state agricultural leaders on a trade mission to Cuba. The trip was led by Minnesota Lt. Gov. Tina Smith and included State Sen. Julie Rosen and Agricultural Commissioner Dave Frederickson.

The delegation visited Cuba at an interesting time, as President Trump revealed the administration’s new policies concerning Cuba days before they left. The group met with a variety of organizations during their time in Cuba including the Institute of Animal Sciences, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. U.S. policies towards the island, particularly those related to agriculture, were top of mind with Cuban leaders and organizations.

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Partnering with ASA for Agronomy Training Development

agronomy training 

CHS has partnered with The American Society of Agronomy (ASA) to collaborate in creating a dynamic, online-learning program focused on improving sustainability practices and standards in production agriculture. The curriculum will be designed for agronomists and agribusiness professionals and will establish a recognized, industry-wide standard of education to help agronomists and other agriculture professionals truly implement sustainable practices in the field.  (more…)

CHS reports fiscal 2017 third-quarter results

Underlying business performance stable, one-time events cause quarterly loss

PAUL, MINN. (July 14, 2017) – CHS Inc., the nation’s leading farmer-owned cooperative and a global energy, grains and foods company, announced a net loss of $45.2 million for the third quarter of its 2017 fiscal year (three-month period ended May 31, 2017), compared to net income of $190.3 million for the same period one year ago. Consolidated revenues for the third quarter were $8.6 billion, compared to $7.8 billion for the third quarter of 2016, representing a 10 percent increase.

“Despite the economic challenges in agriculture and energy, several of our underlying businesses are having a solid year,” said CHS President and Chief Executive Officer Jay Debertin. “Unfortunately, we’ve experienced three negative one-time events this fiscal year that have resulted in charges leading to a loss in the third quarter and a significant earnings decline for the year to date. In response to these events, we are implementing measures to better identify risk management gaps in some of our processes and when necessary enhance our ability to effectively manage our risks.”

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5 Considerations for Effectively Applying Herbicides

applying herbicides

Soil Science

There are several factors to consider before and during herbicide spray application. Taking the appropriate steps to prepare for a successful application can save time, money and effort. While spray requirements may vary based on crop, location and herbicide formulation, there are steps that should be taken to ensure the best protection against weeds during the current crop season and to protect the effectiveness of the herbicide long term.

Mother Nature plays an important role in the success of herbicide application. In addition to the preventive and arbitrary actions necessary to increase herbicide effectiveness, working with natural conditions is extremely beneficial and mandatory since we do not control the weather or other natural factors. (more…)

Day 4: Montana Crop and Cow Tour – A Photo Adventure

On June 22, editor of C magazine Greg Lamp hit the road on a motorcycle trip with a gang of Montana ranchers and farmers. Follow along with him as the group of wild hogs tours ranches, farms, co-ops and processing facilities in eastern Montana and western North Dakota. Photos and details of their adventures are provided in the links below. Make sure to check back for more!


Day 4: Sidney, Mont.

With the chilly weather leaving Minot, ND, the group had to stop and warm up in Stanley, ND. Then, it was on to Watford City, ND for lunch at the farm of fellow cyclist Bob Wisner. South of Watford City, ND, they took in the spectacular sights of Theodore Roosevelt Park before continuing on over the Yellowstone River to Sidney, MT.

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