North Central Farmer’s Elevator

North Central Farmer’s Elevator (NCFE) is a full-service cooperative headquartered in Ipswich, S.D., with 2,500 members serving north central South Dakota and south central North Dakota. The co-op has a relationship with Land O’Lakes that goes back more than 40 years.

One example of this successful partnership is the co-op’s collaboration with Land O’Lakes Business Development Services on an Expert Selling Solutions program for the co-op’s agronomy, petroleum and feed sales teams. This program was designed to help teams enhance their selling skills to fuel growth. “Training is critical, and we want to provide employees with the tools and resources they need to do their best in selling products to our customers,” said Mike Nickolas, NCFE general manager. “We want to be respected in the country and be that leader, doing the best we can for our producer-owners.”

According to Nickolas, Land O’Lakes is proactive with the NCFE team. “Whether working on an acquisition, strategic planning or employee development programs, they’ve helped us grow our business, and we feel very good about that because if they want us to grow, that means they are growing as well.”

NCFE’s relationship with Land O’Lakes has helped fuel business growth for the co-op. Over the past 20 years, NCFE has grown from a $70 million company to a $700 million company. “This team has seen tremendous change, been able to keep up with it and has been very proactive at developing their employees,” said Larry Holst, director of the Land O’Lakes Ag Customer team.

“Our partnership benefits both NCFE and Land O’Lakes,” added Holst. “We are helping NCFE become a better place for their customers to come to for advice that can help them become more profitable, which in turn can help NCFE and Land O’Lakes become more profitable.”

This year, the Land O’Lakes team also worked with NCFE to set up a disciplined approach to measuring their risk exposure. “It’s not so much hedging the grain or energy, but looking at the actual full-dollar value of the commodities and determining the risk we’re willing to take,” said Nickolas. “It’s an interesting concept that helps us better achieve our goal of limiting our risk in order to protect the cooperative. Land O’Lakes uses these tools themselves and brought the program to us.”

NCFE purchases feed through Dakotaland Feeds, LLC, in which NCFE has ownership along with Land O’Lakes, and buys seed and crop protection products from Land O’Lakes’ Winfield Solutions business to provide to their customers. “We’re satisfied with the quality of products we get from Land O’Lakes, and I think the technology, seed and crop protection advances are going to continue to expand and grow. With the help of Land O’Lakes and their brands, it’s a very exciting time for both NCFE and our Land O’Lakes partnership.”

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