Photo courtesy of Farmward Cooperative Morgan Phase two of the $25 million Farmward Cooperative elevator expansion project in Morgan is pictured in February 2025. The project boosted grain storage capacity to three million bushels with the addition of bins holding up to 710,000 bushels.

MORGAN — Farmward Cooperative and Ag Plus Cooperative announced Wednesday that after Ag Plus members overwhelming approved the proposed unification, they plan to merge organizations March 1.

The new, unified cooperative will operate under the name Farmward Cooperative and maintain its Morgan headquarters. John Husk will continue to serve as Farmward Chief Executive Officer. Ag Plus CEO Josh Hilbrands will assume the role of senior vice president of operations.

“This unification with Ag Plus Cooperative represents an important step forward in our mission to advance farming for generations,” said Farmward Cooperative Board President Dave Kadlec. “Together, we can provide greater operational support, while remaining rooted in the values and connections that make our communities thrive. Our focus will continue to be on helping growers succeed, supporting families, towns, and ensuring that the cooperative remains a trusted partner across the communities we serve.”

Ag Plus Board Chairman Eddie De Langhe said the organizations will combine strengths of both cooperatives to better serve growers, expand services, and remain trusted partners in their communities for generations to come.

Unification benefits include combining technical expertise and operational resources to support agronomic success and expanded energy needs, expanded geographical reach with more locations and services for growers across southwest Minnesota, standardizing practices, coordinated operations and combining purchasing power for future farmers and community members.

Farmward in Morgan began a $25 million elevator expansion project in 2024 with safety and automation technology updates to enable the elevator to operate more efficiently and safely.

The project included a 167-feet tall main receiving tower. The elevator site added full automation with hazard monitoring, grain bin temperature sensors, and speed monitors for three million bushels of upright storage at one location. Three new 1,000 bushel receiving capacity pits are able to receive 60,000 bushels an hour, more than twice the speed of the former facility.

Farmward outlet locations are also located in Clements, Comfrey, Danube, Morton, Olivia, Renville, Sacred Heart, Springfield, Wabasso, and Wood Lake.

Farmward offers grain handling and marketing, crop protection, crop nutrients, seed, precision agriculture, bulk feed delivery and bulk delivery of energy products including refined fuels, propane, and lubricants.

Ag Plus is a farmer-owned cooperative with locations in Marshall, Canby, Ghent, Ivanhoe, Hendricks, Minneota, and Slayton. Ag Plus operates multiple divisions including agronomy, energy, convenience stores, and automotive shops.

After the unification, all cooperative locations will continue operating as they do now, with the same team. Cooperative updates will be shared on the Farmward website, social media pages, and emails.

Cooperative members with questions are encouraged to contact a board member or their account manger.