Officials with two of South Dakota’s largest agricultural co-operatives are continuing to move toward a possible unification of the two companies. North Central Farmers Elevator and South Dakota Wheat Growers are looking to become CentraGro Cooperative. Mike Nickolas, the current general manager for North Central, is in line to become CentraGro’s new C-E-O. He says both groups have looked at joining for awhile…
He says jobs will not be affected by the proposed unification….
Some groups are urging opposition to the merger, citing a loss of competition and fear of increase input costs. Nickolas says the is plenty of competition for farmers to choose…
The proposed unification agreement will be mailed to members of both co-ops next Wednesday. Informational meeting will be held June first to the tenth. Ballots are due by five-PM on June 17th with the merge vote coming on June 18th. If approved, the both entities will be come CentraGro Cooperative on August 1st.