Announcing Frank Barron FS PARTNERS Division Manager

Frank Barron has been named the Division Manager of FS PARTNERS, a division of GROWMARK Inc., effective November 1, 2010.

Frank brings a wealth of experience to his new leadership role with FS PARTNERS. He was employed 11 years by Hudson Bay Company. Through its management development program, he worked his way up to managing all facets of large retail stores. In 1991, he entered the co-operative system as consumer manager for United Co-operatives of Ontario; and the following year, he joined Simcoe District Co-operative Services, serving as chief operating office/director of sales and marketing. In 2005, Frank joined the staff of FS PARTNERS, where he served as area manager. Additionally in 2008, Frank was awarded a master of business administration degree from the University of Guelph.

Frank and his wife Susanne reside in Coldwater, Ont., and are the proud parents of Brittany and Aynsley, both college students.

GROWMARK announces new Chief Executive Officer

The GROWMARK, Inc. Board of Directors announced this week that Jeff Solberg has been named CEO of GROWMARK effective Jan. 3, 2011. Solberg will follow current CEO Bill Davisson, who has announced his retirement for the same date.

Jeff Solberg is a 1974 business administration graduate of Illinois Wesleyan and received a master's of business administration degree from the University of Illinois in 1976. He has held the positions of financial analyst, cash manager, assistant treasurer, treasurer, vice president of finance, and senior vice president of finance for GROWMARK. Solberg is past president and chairman of the Institute for Cooperative Finance Officers, served on the board of directors for Citizens Savings Bank, and is a 2010 inductee into the Bloomington (Ill.) High School District 87 Hall of Fame.

GROWMARK is a $6 billion organization experiencing a period of significant growth. Selecting a chief executive is among the most important and impactful actions we are charged with taking, says Dan Kelley, chairman of the board and president. “Jeff has the skills, knowledge, experience and support to lead GROWMARK successfully into the future. The Board of Directors has great confidence in him and in the depth of talented employees throughout the GROWMARK System.”

To watch a video of Dan Kelley, GROWMARK Chairman of the Board and President speaking with GROWMARK CEO-Elect Jeff Solberg, click on http://bit.ly/c5BRJl

First FAST STOP gas station opens in Ontario

Just under 6,000 litres were pumped into the gas tanks of more than 100 vehicles that lined up to take advantage of the opportunity to get gas at a lower price and celebrate the opening of the first FAST STOP® fueling station in Canada in Welland, Ontario on Oct. 29.

An official ribbon cutting ceremony took place at 2:30 p.m. and a $1,500 donation to the Welland Hospital Foundation was made during the opening ceremonies through equal contributions from

FS PARTNERS, UPI Energy LP and Melna’s Service Centre. Local, federal and provincial government leaders showed support by coming out to say a few words and congratulate Nick Melna of Melna’s Service Centre on his new FAST STOP fueling station. After the ribbon was cut, gas prices were reduced for three hours.

“Not only did we have a great deal on gas, but customers also knew that a portion of the day’s sales were being donated to the Welland Hospital Foundation, so there was even more incentive for people to come out and fill up their tanks,” says Andrew Troyer, director of Energy for FS PARTNERS.

Designed for people on the run, the remotely-monitored fueling station was developed and implemented in 2007 by FS PARTNERS, a division of GROWMARK. Consumers can purchase fuel 24 hours a day, seven days a week paying with VISA, MasterCard, Interac, and FS Fuel cards. The FS Fuel card allows consumers to be part of a network of FS branded fueling sites across Ontario offering 24 hour convenience with just one card. The Welland station offers clear diesel fuel and environmentally friendlier ethanol blended fuels.

Local government officials commended Melna on his vision to go with the self-serve remotely monitored system that this FAST STOP offers. Melna said that the self-serve feature gives him more freedom to focus on his service centre customers but also provide a place for local residents to purchase gas easily.

“Being open 24 hours non-stop and convenient location will make life easier for a lot of people who used to drive quite a distance to get gas.” Melna was born and raised in Welland and has owned and operated Melna’s Service Centre since 1999.

In the United States, GROWMARK supports a network of more than 300 FAST STOP branded outlets.



From (L-R): Roman Groch, Board President, Welland Hospital Foundation; Andrew Troyer, Director of Energy, FS PARTNERS; Councillor Jim Larouche, Ward 6 Welland; Malcolm Allen, MP Welland; Nick and Sandy Melna, Melna's Service Centre; Peter Kormos, MPP Welland; Claude Gauthier, Ontario Region Manager, GROWMARK, Inc.; John Canjar, Director, Energy Marketing, Training & Development, UPI Energy LP; Emile Faddoul, Energy Logistics Co-ordinator, FS PARTNERS









Sunderland Co-operative announces new general manager

The board of directors of Sunderland Co-operative Inc. has named Blain Thompson as the company’s new general manager, effective December 1, 2010. He will succeed Clare Hayes, who has announced his retirement.

Blain has been associated with Sunderland since 1983, working 15 years in the agronomy, feed and fuel businesses. He was hired in 1998 as a full-time petroleum driver. Since 2003, he has served as the company’s petroleum manager.

Blain has been a firefighter for Brock Township since 1993, and has held the rank of Captain since 2007. He is a lifelong resident of Sunderland, active in his church and community. He and his wife Terri-Lynn are parents of two boys, ages 14 and 16.

FS System general manager receives Ontario Co-operative Spirit Award

During Co-op week in October, the Ontario Co-operative Association Conference and Gala unfolded with an eventful evening banquet revealing this year’s Spirit Award winners.

Among this year’s seven winners was Sunderland Co-operative General Manager Clare Hayes who was honoured with the Distinguished Co-operator Award.

Hayes began his career at Sunderland Co-operative in 1968. In 1980 he was promoted to assistant manager. During this time, Clare’s vision for the future started to unfold. He was instrumental in the building of a bulk fertilizer plant. This was before the days of computers, so it was up to Clare to formulate the blend sheets by hand. A daunting task for most, but Clare persevered until he was able to convince the board of directors to install its first computer system.

Clare Hayes has promoted co-operative values throughout his four decade career with Sunderland Co-operative and through his support of other co-ops and the community. His tenacity and vision propelled his co-operative from a humble existence of producing one million dollars of sales in 1968 to today reporting a significant $46.5 million for fiscal 2009. But most impressive is that this co-operative has managed to pay out patronage dividends to its farmer-members each consecutive year since its beginnings in 1950 and continued to do so under Clare’s direction and management team from 1983 on.

Sunderland Co-operative has achieved tremendous growth and success through Clare’s responsible business practices, such as maintaining a strong balance sheet, using savings for growth and returning surplus revenues to its members in the form of patronage on a consistent basis.

An important facet to Clare is his commitment to supporting youth development. He maintains strong support from his co-op in regards to local youth through sponsoring 4-H clubs, local fairs, sending teens and young couples to conferences and accepting co-op students from local high schools.

Presenting the award to Hayes was 2008 Distinguished Co-operator Award winner Claude Gauthier, Ontario region manager for GROWMARK, Inc.

In his acceptance speech, Clare paid special tribute to his board of directors, loyal member-customers and strong supportive staff that he says truly paved the way to his success. After nearly 42 years of service with Sunderland Co-operative Hayes announced earlier this year that he will retire at the end of 2010.

On Co-op produces the Conference and Gala – one of the largest co-op conferences in Canada. The event, hosted by On Co-op and sponsored by a number of Ontario co-operatives, was held at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington, Ontario.

Other 2010 On Co-op Conference and Gala highlights

This year’s conference and Gala was themed “2020-Expand your Co-op Vision”. The Conference began with an intensive four-part plenary session, facilitated by Global TV’s Sean Mallen, designed to mobilize the sector in long-term strategic planning. The all-morning session included a taped presentation by Ed Mayo, secretary general of Co-ops UK, a live video link with Rachel Griffiths, creator of the UK’s Co-operatives Fortnight project, and small-group discussions on policy development and the potential for growth and new opportunities in the coming decade. As 2012 has been declared by the United Nations as the International Year of Co-operatives, session participants also began to discuss plans to celebrate! The two videos and many workshop presentations have been posted to the conference pages of the On Co-op website.

Co-op Crocodiles was one of 14 activities presented during the 10th annual Co-op Conference and Gala and for the first time, the conference included a co-op Showcase and Tradeshow, featuring displays by 22 organizations.

Silent and live auctions, featuring items donated by Ontario co-operatives including FS Co-operatives, raised more than $8000 for On Co-op’s Co-operative Young Leaders program. To learn more about the Gala and see videos from the award winners, visit http://www.ontario.coop/

GROWMARK Senior Trainer elected President of On Co-op Board

The Ontario Co-operative Association Board of Directors elected Barry Hannah as board president at On Co-op's Annual General Meeting in June.

Aside from Barry’s extensive duties as senior trainer for the GROWMARK Ontario System, he has been on the board of directors with the Ontario Co-operative Association for the past three years, elected to vice chair in 2009 and just prior to becoming president was appointed to acting chair this spring.

As well as his board duties, Barry has been a strong advocate to promoting life-long learning and co-op education. He sits on the Ontario Co-operative Association’s Life-long Learning Committee and the Human Resources Committee.

Barry Hannah has worked in the Ontario agriculture co-operative system for 20 years. In his earlier years, he was a buyer and then went on to become a manager for GROWMARK’s consumer division. It is during this time that Barry got to know the people in the field that made up the co-operative spirit of the organization. He gained great exposure and began to develop life-long relationships and a passion for the co-operative way of doing business.

AGRIS Co-operative to purchase Nutreco assets at Oungah, Ontario

AGRIS Co-operative is pleased to announce that in co-operation with its grain partner Great Lakes Grain, that they have entered into a an agreement which will see AGRIS purchase the assets of Nutreco Canada Inc. at Oungah, Ontario.

The agreement contemplates that the transaction will be completed by September 30, 2010 so that AGRIS Co-operative on behalf of Great Lakes Grain can be prepared to receive soybeans and corn at the site this fall. It is the intent of Great Lakes Grain to receive and then transfer the corn, beans and wheat to other facilities that it operates.

“While not a large site, this transfer elevator provides the co-operative competitive access to the area between Chatham and Wallaceburg for grain origination and crop input sales,” says AGRIS Co-operative general manager Jim Campbell.

 

AGRIS Co-operative Ltd. is a one hundred percent farmer-owned grain marketing and farm-input supply company and serves more than 1,200 farmer members in 14 locations in Essex, Kent, Elgin, Middlesex and Lambton Counties. It is a leader in precision farming technology, seed, agronomy and petroleum services. The co-operative is majority owner of Wheatley Elevators specializing in identity preserved grain markets and partner of Great Lakes Grain, a grain merchandising company. AGRIS Co-operative is a member-owner of GROWMARK, Inc. and markets products and services under the FS banner.

Great Lakes Grain is a grain marketing partnership between GROWMARK, Inc. and AGRIS Co-operative Ltd. Great Lakes Grain is one of the largest operators of Ontario country elevators. It represents close to 460,000 MT (18 million bushels) of storage capacity with total marketing in excess of 30 million bushels serving farmers at more than 30 AGRIS Co-operative and FS PARTNERS branded locations from Windsor through to Toronto and north to Georgian Bay.

GROWMARK reports estimated Year-End financial results

GROWMARK officials reported unaudited, estimated results for the fiscal year that ended August 31, 2010 at its Annual General Meeting in Chicago on Aug 27. Senior Vice President of Finance Jeff Solberg announced sales of $6 billion (US) for the 2009-2010 fiscal year. GROWMARK net income is estimated to be $81 million.

“Fiscal 2010 was another good year in a series of good years,” Solberg said. “The result of this strong performance is a very strong balance sheet with a sound equity base built on a substantial layer of retained earnings, which minimizes the stock investment required of members, which is supplemented by a prudent level of long-term debt.”

An estimated $55 million in patronage refunds will be returned to GROWMARK member co-operatives in the co-operative’s Plant Food, Crop Protection, Seed, Energy, and Facility Planning & Supply business units.

“Change has been the strategic theme for this decade,” Solberg said. “More change has occurred in this decade than in any other in our history, and that change has produced record levels of success and profitability for the GROWMARK System.”

For more detail on the estimated year end results for each of the GROWMARK System’s core businesses, visit: http://www.growmark.com/NewsRoom/2010GROWMARKEstimatedFinancials.pdf

GROWMARK hosts Ontario young leaders in Chicago at its 2010 Annual General Meeting

Nicole Atkins of Delhi was this year’s youth speaker at the GROWMARK Annual Meeting in Chicago last month. She was chosen by GROWMARK for this prestigious role after graduating from the Ontario Co-operative Association's Co-operative Young Leaders Program. Atkins spoke to several hundred people during the evening banquet about her thoughts on what agriculture technology will look like by the year 2020.

"Youth attending the three day trip to Chicago were chosen by their affiliated organizations because they have shown exemplary leadership skills and have a genuine enthusiasm for being the best they can be for the betterment of agriculture, their communities and society in general," says Claude Gauthier, GROWMARK Ontario Region Manager.

Five other youth traveled with Atkins from Junior Farmers’ Association of Ontario, 4-H Ontario and the Co-operative Young Leaders Program to participate in the annual meeting’s opening ceremonies. See photo below:

Ontario youth at GROWMARK Annual Meeting preparing for the Grand Entry of Colours Ceremony. ( L-R) 4-H Ontario Ambassador Nicole Charlton of Brantford, Junior Farmers Association of Ontario Shannon Kelly of Millbrook, Co-operative Young Leader representatives’ Gerrit Herrema of Uxbridge and Nicole Atkins of Delhi (youth speaker). 4-H Ambassador Jessie Groniger of Carlsbad Springs and JFAO representative Kurtis Smith of Strathroy.

GROWMARK Top 20% Award winners announced at FS Ontario Director Forum

Over 50 Ontario FS member co-operative directors gathered together at the Holiday Inn in Kitchener to attend the Annual FS Ontario Director Forum on Aug. 6 to celebrate this year’s GROWMARK Top 20% Improvement Award winners.

This year, GROWMARK business performance awards went to Sunderland Co-operative Ltd. who received two awards, La Co-operative Agricole d’Embrun Limitee, Lucknow District Co-operative Inc., Huron Bay Co-operative Inc., Thunder Bay Co-operative Farm Supplies and Wanstead Farmers Co-operative Co. Ltd., giving Ontario a total of seven Top 20% Improvement Awards. Ontario received awards in the following areas:

At the FS Director Forum, FS Ontario directors also took the opportunity to pay tribute to Mr. Bill Davisson, GROWMARK’s Chief Executive Officer. Davisson will be retiring from GROWMARK at the end of this calendar year after 40 years of service. To say thank you to Bill for all his contributions to the GROWMARK System, Ontario directors presented him with a parting gift.

Vineland Co-op named one of most improved in FS System

Vineland Growers Co-operative Ltd. was one of five FS member

co-operatives throughout Ontario and the United States recognized by GROWMARK, Inc. for business performance improvement during the GROWMARK Annual Meeting in Chicago on Aug. 27.

GROWMARK measures the improvement in the performance of member co-operatives based on return on invested capital. Over a
five-year time frame, each co-operative's return on invested capital improvement is measured in comparison to other co-operatives in the System. From this measurement, the Performance Improvement Award was developed.

Vineland Growers Co-operative also received GROWMARK’s Top Twenty Percent Award in 2005 and 2007. In 2001, it was honoured with the Ontario Co-operative Association’s Co-operative Innovator Award and last year, the co-operative was the proud recipient of the Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Business Achievement Award in the town of Lincoln (in the larger business category).

Vineland Growers Co-operative Ltd. was established in 1913, and was founded by four forward-thinking farmers who realized there were benefits to working together. Now the company represents over 300 members in tender fruit and grape production, most of which hail from the Niagara region. Today, Vineland Co-operative has 29 full time employees but grows to an employee base of three times that amount in the peak growing season. The co-operative’s manager is George Mitges and Phil Tregunno is the president.

Other recipients of the GROWMARK Annual Most Improvement Award were: in first place,  Ag View FS, Inc., Princeton, Ill., Lincoln Land FS, Inc., Jacksonville, Ill., Conserv FS, Inc., Woodstock, Ill., and Southern FS, Inc., Marion, Ill.

 On the left, Dan Kelley, GROWMARK Chairman and President of the Board and Bill Davisson, GROWMARK Chief Executive Officer, present  George Mitges, Vineland Growers Co-operative general manager with a GROWMARK Most Improvement Award.

2010 Ontario 4-H Ambassadors tour FS System

This year marks the fifth year for the 4-H Ontario Ambassador Program and GROWMARK and UPI Energy are again proud supporters. The objective of the program is to spread the word about 4-H through the ambassadors efforts and participation at various community events throughout Ontario. "It is a more hands on approach to supporting the program and it allows us as sponsors to make closer connections to these young leaders,” says Claude Gauthier, Ontario region manager for GROWMARK.

Earlier this spring, 4-H Ambassador Valerie Stone of Paris, attended the FS Ontario Director Summit where she talked to a large group of FS member co-operative directors about the value of supporting 4-H. The young ambassadors recently took part in a tour of the Ontario FS System where they visited several key sites that showcase the GROWMARK System’s core businesses.

The one-day tour consisted of a visit to UPI Energy’s bulk fuel plant in Guelph, an FS PARTNERS grain and agronomy facility in Ayr, North Wellington Co-operative’s unique retail store and lawn and garden centre, a demonstration field plot called Pursuit of Maximum Yield and a 24 hour remotely monitored cardlock system called Swipe & Go. The Ambassadors will also attend UPI Energy’s annual meeting and participate as flag bearers during the opening ceremonies.

Ambassadors are available to speak at special events at your co-operative, so please keep this in mind during the year when planning annual meetings or other prominent events. 

4-H Ontario Ambassadors gather for a group photo after touring North Wellington Co-operative Services in Harriston. From L-R: GROWMARK Interns Shuang Li and Erin Dubecki, Kelly Boyle, North Wellington Co-operative Services general manager, Amy Baillie, GROWMARK Ontario administrative assistant, Ontario 4-H Ambassadors Valerie Stone of Paris, Jessie Groniger of Carlsbad Springs, Nicole Charlton of Brantford and Eleri Morris of Elmvale, Janice Johnson, GROWMARK Ontario marketing & communication specialist, Andrew Moore, 4-H Ontario marketing & events co-ordinator. Missing from this photo is 2010 4-H Ambassador Anikka Bolender of Stoufville. 

4-H Ambassadors learn about the UPI Energy business from Bob Hodgson, UPI Energy manager, operations, southwestern Ontario. 

Sucessful results achieved through Great Lakes Grain first Crop Assessment Tour

A three day odyssey across southern and mid-western Ontario concluded on Aug. 27 where FS agronomy and grain staff went on a crop scouting blitz capturing new field data to analyse and share with producers.

The Great Lakes Grain Crop Assessment Tour was a team effort that involved 20 two-men teams made up of FS crop specialists, certified crop specialists, customer service managers from FS PARTNERS and AGRIS Co-operative as well as grain originators from Great Lakes Grain.

  

Don Kabbes, marketing development manager for Great Lakes Grain reports that at each stop there was a soybean and corn field in close proximity. Ten teams scouted soybeans while the other 10 teams scouted corn. “On the first night of the tour we trained for yield estimation protocols for corn and soybeans so that all teams observed and recorded data consistently throughout the tour stops,” added Kabbes.

A total of 17 stops resulted in 2,800 corn and 1,575 soybean yield checks. “This experience provided the opportunity for new and seasoned staff to learn together while raising the bar on cropping knowledge,” says Dale Cowan, senior agronomist for Southern Co-operative Services. Don McLean, agronomist for FS PARTNERS added that “this type of mentoring, sharing, teaching and observing crop conditions in our trading areas provided invaluable opportunities to sharpen our skills.”

The tour’s findings were reported daily through video footage on AGRIS Co-operative's and Great Lakes Grain's web sites giving producers a personal close-up view of the daily activities and findings as they happened.

As a follow up, FS crop specialists will continue to scout an additional five corn and soybean sites together with their growers as a whole field assessment. This will provide an additional 200 yield data points to enhance the tour’s current collection.

More follow up videos will be posted to the Great Lakes Grain, FS PARTNERS and AGRIS Co-operative websites over the next few weeks. “This tour provided us with a wonderful opportunity to learn to become better agronomists who in turn will help us to help our customers become better farmers,” says McLean.

The Crop Assessment tour was generously sponsored by Dekalb Seeds, Syngenta Crop Protection and GROWMARK, Inc.

The preliminary results from the Great Lakes Grain Crop Assessment Tour are estimations only and not final research data, but rather observations. To read about the data results collected from the tour, please visit http://www.greatlakesgrain.com/, or http://www.agris.coop/

(Photo above) Vicky Michinski, zone grain originator with Great Lakes Grain and Bill Dunbar, FS PARTNERS director of operations scout for European Cut Worm at Crop Assesment Tour.

FS PARTNERS and Rothsay Biodiesel announce strategic partnership

FS PARTNERS and Rothsay Biodiesel, one of Canada’s leading biodiesel producers, have announced a new partnership to deliver  blended biodiesel to Maple Leaf Foods fleets in Ontario.

With this alliance, FS PARTNERS further solidifies its reputation as an innovator in the Canadian energy market by developing a solution to deliver blended fuel using Rothsay biodiesel for Maple Leaf fleets. The final blended product will be shipped out of the Port of Hamilton, where both companies store their biodiesel products.

“With each new business venture, it becomes more apparent that biodiesel is the way of the future,” says Tom O’Neill, FS PARTNERS Energy Sales Manager. “Partnering with a company like Rothsay Biodiesel, that is also a leader in driving sustainability in agriculture and the environment, is a positive step forward for both organizations.”

“This is a very positive development for Rothsay Biodiesel and the Canadian biofuels industry,” says Todd Moser, Vice President Alternative Energy for Rothsay. “This partnership advances our biofuels fleet fuelling program by coupling our high quality, sustainable biodiesel with FS PARTNERS’ established petroleum and biofuels distribution and blending capabilities. It gives us the platform to continue expanding the benefits of using cleaner, environmentally friendly renewable commercial fuels in the Canadian market.”

Rothsay, a division of Maple Leaf Foods Inc., is a leader in the Canadian biodiesel industry and one of the largest producers of recycled value-added products including the production of animal feed ingredients, amino acid supplements, and alternative fuel by converting edible and inedible by-products. It operates five rendering facilities nationwide and a commercial-scale biodiesel facility in Montreal.

FS PARTNERS takes the board room to the field in Pursuit of Maximum Yields

Dressed in bright orange shirts and engulfed in 12 foot high corn stalks, the FS PARTNERS agronomy team in partnership with Syngenta held its Green Plan Solutions road show at a variety of optimum demonstration field plots throughout central and south western Ontario to promote the Pursuit of Maximum Yield Program to its progressive producers.

The show began on Aug. 11 in Ayr and then continued for the next week at four other locations that covered FS PARTNERS trade territories in and surrounding Drayton, Mitchell, Harmony, Delhi, Stayner, Alliston and Elmvale representing corn, wheat and soybeans.

"With an excellent turn out at each field plot and next-to-perfect weather, the event was a huge success," says Dan Clarke, FS PARTNERS sales manager.

More than 160 producers attended in total and participated in an outdoor rotation of information stations. Each station was equipped with expert advisors that spent about 20 minutes on specific topics such as the importance of good information gathering, proper soil fertility or farming by prescription, plant nutrition, managing energy prices and genetics, traits and refuge management.

Each station was equipped with a series of colourful story boards that were used as a presentation tool much like a PowerPoint presentation on a computer. “It was like bringing a high-tech boardroom presentation to the outdoors,” says Don McLean, FS PARTNERS agronomist. Guests were comfortably seated on bales of hay and offered a cooler of refreshments at each station.

Based on Dr. Below of the University of Illinois’s research, the FS PARTNERS team summed up each presentation with an analysis of his findings that showed how much yield is reduced when removing one of the recommended high-tech components of corn production.

(L-R) Don McLean, FS PARTNERS agronomist and Dan Clarke, FS PARTNERS Agromony sales manager provide an overview of the Whole Farm Proposal.

“It is all about being better with the pencil,” says Crop Specialist Tony Balkwill at the information-management station. Producer Brett Schuyler of Schuyler Farms Ltd. commented that he is convinced that soil sampling can be beneficial based on the results he received. “Right along my pig barn, soil sample results showed high levels of fertility that can be easily explained. So obviously the numbers are accurate,” he explains. 

In conclusion, Dan Clarke stated that there is not just one silver bullet to help a producer gain maximum yield, but it is more to do with a full approach of utilizing all aspects of farming technology and market planning. Participants finished the morning with a hearty barbecue lunch and social time with friends and colleagues.

The Pursuit of Maximum Yield Demonstration Plot Program is a multi-year project that will provide long-term results for producers to help them make the best decisions for their operations.

Using outdoor story boards Devin Homick, zone originator specialist of Great Lakes Grain (left) and Morley Friesen, FS PARTNERS area manager (right) describe what FS PARTNERS can offer in grain and fuel options.

FS managers presented with results of the 2010 Large Commercial Producer Study

Earlier this summer, FS Co-operative general managers and agronomy staff attended a meeting with Tom Funk of Agri Studies Inc. who presented the results of the Large Commercial Producer Study (LCPS) that took place in the winter of this year.

GROWMARK was one of 18 Canadian organizations that supported this project. The study was done in partnership with Agri Studies Inc (ASI) and Ipsos Forward Research (IFR) in co-operation with Top Crop Manager (TCM) and the Western Producer (TWP).

With over 500 respondents, the study targeted only those farmers whose main income was generated from farming crops including corn, soy, wheat, barley or canola, livestock and dairy, swine and poultry and included some comparison data on Hutterite colonies versus traditional farming practices.

The LCPS Study is a comprehensive survey of large farms in all parts of Canada. It focused on understanding the behaviours and attitudes of this important group and took a good look at the following key topics:
• Who are commercial producers?
• What do they want?
• How do they make buying decisions?
• How do they sell/market their products?
• How can they be reached?
• What are their management challenges?

Unlike market research that is focused on a specific product or issue, the LCPS took a higher level look at the underlying trends in the Canadian farm market. It not only revealed the data mentioned above but also shared some deeper analysis into what farmers are feeling in regards to their personal and business goals and what they value most.

“It was good to confirm that most of the main values and concerns coming from producers, based on this study, fit well with what the FS System is working to achieve for its customers, such as: increasing farmers’ profits, reducing their risk, becoming more competitive and making their lives easier,” says Frank Campbell, GROWMARK Ontario marketing director.

Campbell has organized an extensive workshop planned for Sept. 28 with the goal of developing key strategies for the FS System customized to specific markets.

Key findings from the study will be posted on GROWMARK eresource/marketing research after October 1st.

Tom Funk, Agri Studies Inc. provides GROWMARK and FS Co-operative managers with new facts about farmer trends.

Introducing new environmentally approved hydraulic fluid

UPI Energy is pleased to announce that Power Flo Environmentally Approved Hydraulic Fluid is now available through CASE ’N DRUM OIL LP.

Power Flo is a premium high pressure hydraulic fluid that is non-toxic, biodegradable, water soluble and "EcoLogo" approved. It is being successfully used in a wide variety of hydraulic systems operating in sensitive environments. Power Flo is fire resistant and will not burn or flame even when misted under high pressure.

Since Power Flo is a top-of-the-line, synthetic, water soluble hydraulic fluid, it provides a more responsible environmental option over mineral or vegetable based fluids. Power Flo dissolves entirely and its technical performance is equal to or better than premium mineral oil hydraulic fluids in service today.

Whether the concern is environmental stewardship or avoiding the crushing costs of polluting incidents, mobile hydraulic equipment operators and fleet managers are looking harder than ever for a working alternative to mineral oil hydraulic fluids, and Power Flo meets that need. Contact UPI Energy for more information on this product.

Employee appreciation night goes to the movies

Toy Story III and a barbecue chicken dinner at the Hanover Drive-in theatre was this year’s summer staff appreciation event for North Wellington Co-operative employees. Each year for the past four years, Kelly Boyle, general manager of North Wellington Co-operative Services has planned a mid-summer event that involves good food, entertainment and socializing for all employees and their families.

The co-operative rented out the Drive-in property making it exclusive to just the North Wellington Co-op group. More than 150 employees, their children and spouses came out for the evening. “It is not very often employees from each branch get to mingle and meet each other’s families like this,” says Boyle. “It helps connect the branches as one big team,” he adds.

A beautiful sunset was the entertainment even before the real show started at the Hanover Drive-In for North Wellington Co-op’s staff appreciation night.

Ontario’s advocacy efforts do pay off

Since November of 2008 The Ontario FS Co-operatives Government Relations Committee with the assistance from the Ontario Co-operative Association has been hard at work raising awareness and addressing several key challenges facing Ontario’s agricultural co-ops, and in particular FS co-ops by communicating directly to members of the provincial parliament and other public policy figures.

In recent months, committee members have met with key Ministries such as Finance and Energy, as well as with MPP Carol Mitchell (the new Minister of Agriculture). Among topics discussed were: the impact of punitive property tax classifications on Ontario’s commercial grain elevators, requesting support for the local food movement through adoption of a “buy-in-Ontario” preference in government food service procurement, the need for government to work with Ontario co-operatives to develop new renewable energy initiatives, and the negative effect of the proposed Consolidated Municipal Hazardous or Special Waste program (CMHSW) on Ontario farmers.

Recently, the Ontario Agri Business Association (OABA) was successful in negotiating an agreement with all fertilizer stewards that would allow packaged fertilizer for agricultural use to be excluded from the requirements of the CMHSW program. While OABA had spent over a year lobbying the government, Claude Gauthier, GROWMARK Ontario region manager notes the committee was “part of what created the momentum to change the tide.” Jim Campbell, general manager of AGRIS Co-operative Ltd. adds, “I think the FS Government Relations Committee can take some credit in keeping this issue on the political forefront to allow OABA and others to negotiate the right arrangement.”

Corporate GROWMARK’s director of government affairs Chuck Spencer, is part of the Ontario committee and provides guidance in regards to tactics and strategies keeping the agenda in sync with corporate GROWMARK’s viewpoints and goals. Spencer says, “This committee is doing great work and is targeting key issues that will help improve the profitability for farmers keeping us in line with our core values.”

The committee, with the help of advocates from various FS co-operatives across the province, will continue its efforts to move forward with the other key issues, in a concerted effort to make the environment for all agricultural co-operatives more favorable.

As part of the Ontario Co-operative Association’s government relations efforts, an annual reception is held at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in Toronto where FS member co-operative representatives attend to meet with MPPs to help educate them on co-ops and discuss how policies affect their future. From L-R Claude Gauthier, GROWMARK Ontario region manager, David Malott, AGRIS Co-operative president, Pat Hoy, Chatham-Kent-Essex MPP, Maria Van Bommel, Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP, Denyse Guy, Ontario Co-operative Association executive director and Jim Campbell, AGRIS Co-operative general manager.

FS PARTNERS employees all gather together for one day to learn more about the GROWMARK System

On June 23, FS PARTNERS held an all-employee meeting as a way to introduce its plans and strategic direction going forward.

Jaye Atkins, FS PARTNERS general manager emceed the one-day event and introduced each of the six GROWMARK executives that flew up from Bloomington for the day.

Dennis Farmer, senior vice president, member services & retail, led the group of speakers by providing an overview of GROWMARK operations. Shelly Kruse, vice president, Midwest retail & acquisitions, gave an update on the new developments in the co-op structure of FS PARTNERS and how it will benefit the farmer-customer.

The 175 FS PARTNERS employees who attended also heard presentations from Jeff Solberg, senior vice president of finance, Bill Erlenbush, executive director of corporate compliance, Linda Witmer, human resource & compliance manager (Ontario), Becky Ropp, manager, Career Development, and Jim Hoyt, vice president, strategic planning & corporate services, who has led the strategic planning process for FS PARTNERS for the past several months.

The last speaker of the day was Jaye Atkins who defined the new strategic plan for FS PARTNERS and unveiled its new mission and vision statements among the many marketing and business initiatives it will tackle in the coming months.

FS PARTNERS Mission:

To serve as your leading resource for innovative solutions.

FS PARTNERS Vision:

To be the trusted long-term leader in our business.

Shelly Kruse of GROWMARK awards Scott McKay of FS PARTNERS Harmony branch with $20 cash when he was the first in the audience to recite the new Mission statement for FS PARTNERS

GROWMARK hosts new website training day for FS Ontario marketing staff

On June 16, GROWMARK held its first ever Ontario FS System Website Clinic that offered training and tips to 17 FS marketing assistants throughout Ontario.

Jana Kiefer, GROWMARK’s web publisher travelled up from Bloomington, Illinois for the day to lead the group through a hands-on session with participants each equipped with individual lap tops. Through the help of GROWMARK IT staff, the Kitchener office board room was converted into a professional computer lab training center.

Jana covered a variety of topics on how to set up and navigate through the DTN website module. Participants learned about different design templates, how to navigate properly, and overall site maintenance. After lunch, Terry Stevenson, communication manager for AGRIS Co-operative and Jeff McCallum, communication and marketing specialist for North Wellington Co-operative Services provided the group with some other ideas and examples of enhancements that they have incorporated into their websites.

GROWMARK offers its members a website support program that it manages with DTN. Member co-operatives that sign on to this program will have the added peace-of-mind of having a support contact that can provide the expertise required to produce and maintain a professional looking website as well as some extra value provided by DTN because of its relationship with GROWMARK that may not be available independently.

Marketing assistants from Lucknow District Co-operative, Huron Bay Co-operative, Sunderland Co-operative, North Wellington Co-operative Services, AGRIS Co-operative, FS PARTNERS and Co-operative Regionale de Nipissing Sudbury made the trip to Kitchener to learn more about website development. If you would like more information on GROWMARK's website support program, please contact Jana Kiefer at jkiefer@growmark.com or 309-557-6170.

Blain Thompson (L) and Leonard Woodward from Sunderland Co-operative work on some hands-on examples provided to the group during Ontario's first FS Website Clinic.

UPI Energy gives back through its annual charity golf tournament

UPI Energy LP presented two generous donations of $10,000 each to  local charities at its 10th Annual Invitational Charity Golf Tournament held on May 31 at Whistle Bear Golf Club.

Under sunny skies, the tournament raised funds for the Learning Disabilities Association of Kitchener-Waterloo and Sunrise Therapeutic Riding & Learning Centre.

The Learning Disabilities Association of Kitchener-Waterloo, represented by Annette Zegers, thanked UPI for the donation. Ms. Zegers commented on the wonderful feeling that comes when a child with a learning disability, after several weeks in the program is able to read and emphatically states, “reading is fun!”

Vanessa Blurton-Jones, an adult rider and Para-equestrian athlete from Sunrise Therapeutic Riding and Learning Centre, spoke of the confidence and the inspiration she has received from her experience with Sunrise and from watching other Para-equestrian athletes realize their dreams.

Over the past ten years, sponsors and participants have helped UPI raise over $150,000 for the recipient charities.

Robert Sicard, UPI Energy LP President and CEO donates $10,000 each to: Annette Zegers from Learning Disabilities Association of Kitchener Waterloo and  Cathy Illerbrun and Vanessa Blurton-Jones from Sunrise Therapeutic Riding and Learning Centre.

Ontario FS System returns $3.2 million in patronage to Ontario farmers

Claude Gauthier, Ontario region manager
GROWMARK, Inc.

With the busy growing season of 2010 in progress and the last of the FS
Co-operative’s 2009 annual meetings complete, it is a time to take a good look at year-end results. And from all reports, it is safe to say, that even despite the economic unrest in 2009, it proved to be a very good year for Ontario agriculture co-ops.

“It is a good time for agriculture,” says Claude Gauthier, Ontario region manager for GROWMARK. “The success of these co-ops ultimately transcribes into the success of its farmer-customers.”

“Each co-operative shares its success with its members in the form of patronage refunds or by enhancing its operation, therefore, making the local farmer and community the real heart and backbone behind the co-op.”

The history of ag co-ops in Ontario dates back more than 95 years and over those nine decades has evolved and re-identified itself through ownership, acquisitions, mergers and branding, but the one thing that stays constant is the strong network of innovators, experts and loyal co-operators that drive the sector forward. This remains evident with the Ontario FS System reporting record profits for 2009.

“The richness of this culture not only relates to sales numbers, but also in co-operative spirit that involves community support through youth programs, local events and charities,” says Gauthier.

Here are some examples of reported success within the FS System in Ontario:

Kelly Boyle, general manager
North Wellington Co-operative Services Inc.

On sales of just over $24 million and net income coming in comparable to last year of just under half a million dollars, North Wellington Co-operative Services returned $124,000 in cash patronage to members compared to $60,000 in 2008 and returned $135,000 in member loan interest in 2009.

North Wellington Co-operative also reported that its general reserve has reached an all time high of $4.3 million which is a very healthy indicator of core strength and sustainability for the co-operative.

In 2009, North Wellington Co-operative celebrated its 65th anniversary and invested in a new central feed warehouse that is large enough to serve all four branches and customers of the co-operative. Its board of directors led by President Eric Rae of Harriston, remains unchanged.

John Turvey, general manager
Wanstead Farmers Co-operative Co.

A new record for pre-tax profit of $1.018 million derived from $35 million in sales was the positive message given to members of Wanstead Farmers Co-operative. Its farmer-members received $235,000 in cash patronage and the co-op spent $400,000 on equipment upgrades and also reported that its membership is solid with almost 80 per cent of its business conducted through its membership.

Wanstead Farmers Co-op received two GROWMARK Top 20% Improvement Awards recognizing substantial sales increases and credit management success. Tony Straatman of Petrolia was newly elected as president for Wanstead Farmers Co-operative.

George Mitges, general manager
Vineland Growers Co-operative Ltd.

The fresh fruit region of Niagara is home to Vineland Growers Co-operative, the oldest agricultural co-operative in Ontario with its 100th anniversary approaching in three years.

Vineland Growers Co-operative President Phil Tregunno reported that the co-operative returned just under $1.2 million in patronage-rebates and produced $33.5 million in sales and has seen steady growth in returned earnings over the past five years amounting to over $1 million.

This year was especially rewarding when Vineland Growers Co-operative received the Chamber of Commerce (Town of Lincoln) Most Outstanding Business Achievement Award in the large business category.

Jim Campbell, general manager
AGRIS Co-operative Ltd.

AGRIS Co-operative boasted sales of $70 million and $175 million in sales for its grain business partnership with GROWMARK, Great Lakes Grain.

Pre tax income for AGRIS resulted in twice as much as last year of $2.73 million and its members also saw their patronage rebates double from 2008 to half a million dollars in 2009. AGRIS received The GROWMARK Top 20% Improvement Award for increased sales volume. In 2011, AGRIS Co-operative will have reached its 90th year anniversary.

Recently AGRIS Co-operative ventured into the solar energy business and created a new farmer-owned company called AGRIS Solar Co-operative that gives its members the opportunity to invest and participate in the development of renewable energy within their local communities.

David Malott of Muirkirk is president of AGRIS Co-operative as well as AGRIS Solar Co-operative.


Allan Scott, general manager
Lucknow District Co-operative Inc.

Lucknow District Co-operative reported excellent financial results for 2009, and was very focused on its investment strengths.

In 2009, Lucknow Co-operative invested in new equipment and renovations and has budgeted approximately $900,000 for 2010 on capital additions that will provide added value for its farmer-members and their operations.

Lucknow District Co-operative reported sales of $14.2 million. “In spite of the market challenges, we showed great progress this year in combined financial stability and increased capital strength,” says Scott. Dave Gibson of Ripley was newly elected as president of Lucknow District Co-operative.

Clare Hayes, general manager
Sunderland Co-operative Inc.

Sunderland Co-operative is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year and is noted for the most consistency with a perfect track record of success in providing patronage to its members since it began in 1950. Sunderland Co-operative President Doug Johnson of Keswick reported 2009 sales results of $46.5 million with member returns of $550,000 in patronage.

Sunderland Co-op received The GROWMARK Top 20% Improvement Award recognizing substantial increases in sales.

Clare Hayes, general manager of Sunderland Co-operative has been nominated by the board of directors for the 2010 Ontario Co-operative Association’s Distinguished Co-operator Award. Hayes announced his plans to retire at the end of this year after nearly 42 years of service to his co-operative.

Ben Postuma, general manager
Thunder Bay Co-operative Farm Supplies

Thunder Bay Co-operative Farm Supplies President Fritz Jasper reported its best year ever in its 57 year history. Members were rewarded with a four per cent dividend this year and for the past four years prior. They reported sales of $3.5 million and returned $52,000 in patronage to members.

Thunder Bay Co-operative has expanded by purchasing a small feed company this year which will add to their product offering and additional growth.

Jeff Hurst, general manager
Huron Bay Co-operative Inc.

Huron Bay Co-operative reported profits of just under $130,000 in 2009 on sales of almost $35 million in sales. The co-operative has served local area farmers since 1951 and now has a membership base of approximately 1,500.

The co-operative recently elected Allan Smith of Tara as president and three new directors: David Kuntz of Walkerton, Sam Luckhardt of Owen Sound and Doug Jeffray of Wroxeter.

Raymond Savage, general manager
Co-opérative Régionale de Nipissing Sudbury Ltd.

Co-opérative Régionale de Nipissing Sudbury showed great strength in acquisitions in 2009 with the purchase of a feed business called Northern Feed Supplies in New Liskeard and the heating, farming and commercial fuels business from Norstar Petroleum located in Azilda. It also operates a fertilizer blender and grain handling facility in the Temiskaming region.

The co-operative’s President Raymond Brouillette of Verner reported sales of $47.6 million and returned $373,000 to its members in patronage.

Nipissing-Sudbury Co-operative was especially flattered to have GROWMARK’s President Dan Kelley attend their annual meeting. “Having Mr. Kelley attend our annual meeting was a very special highlight and an honour for our employees and our members,” says Savage.

Michel Chenier, general manager
La Co-opérative Agricole d’Embrun Ltée

La Co-opérative Agricole d’Embrun showed great success in its sales numbers but also in its investments. At a cost of $1.3 million, two new grain storage bins were erected that hold an additional 5,800 metric tons of grain, two new trucks for petroleum and fertilizer along with some new feed equipment was invested back into the co-operative. The new grain bins were filled to capacity almost immediately maximizing Embrun Co-ops total holding capacity of 15,000 tonnes of corn.

The president of Embrun Co-operative, Robert Gratton of Casselman, reported annual sales of $68.5 million and returns to members in the form of patronage of $125,000 as well as member loan interest of $116,000 was paid out to members.

Embrun Co-operative received a Top 20% Award from GROWMARK recognizing substantial sales increase.

Jaye Atkins, general manager
FS PARTNERS

FS PARTNERS, a retail division of GROWMARK that manages 13 FS locations also was successful in its first year as a GROWMARK division and met its financial targets and objectives set for 2009. FS PARTNERS underwent a large restructuring during the spring of 2009 that resulted in a transfer of ownership of four member co-operatives it managed to become a division of GROWMARK.

Alex Elliott, general manager

Great Lakes Grain

In 2009, the grain sites owned by GROWMARK within the FS PARTNERS retail division joined with AGRIS Co-operative to form a larger Great Lakes Grain that represents close to 18 million bushels of storage capacity with total marketing in excess of 30 million bushels serving more than 30 locations throughout south western and central Ontario.

Together—the FS Co-operative System in Ontario finished 2009 with exceptional year-end results providing patronage refunds to farmers of almost $3.2 million! This is not only good for co-operatives, but most importantly for the farmer-members and for the communities they serve.