Monday, October 1, 2007

Co-op Is Featured in World-Herald Headline Story

As the season's corn harvest gets underway, Dorchester's Farmers Cooperative is featured in today's headline story of the Omaha World-Herald.

The World-Herald states that grain companies are working to reduce on-ground storage and potential deterioration as U.S. farmers are on track toward a record crop of 13.3 million bushels -- 26% more corn than last year.

Ron Velder, DHS graduate and Farmers Cooperative general manager, told the Omaha paper: "There is definitely more grain than there is (storage) space."

This year's expected 13.3 billion bushels of corn would make last year's 10.5 billion bushels seem small in comparison. Crop analysts say yields are through the roof, as growers in Southern states have reported getting 240 bushels an acre -- a number unheard of in that region of the country. "Those cotton boys down there ... are going to reap the benefits of switching to corn this year," a crop consultant said.

The good corn prices and record harvest is good news for the Dorchester area economy. Nonetheless, that doesn't mitigate the challenges presented to our area co-op workers this time of year.

"Corn in exposed piles can maintain its quality for a few months, if moisture isn't excessive. But canvas-covered, side-walled structures can keep corn for more than a year. How much corn ends up exposed on the ground depends on the timeliness of rail cars for exports, said Velder of Farmers Cooperative. "If you don't have a plan to pick it up," Velder said, "you probably shouldn't put it there in the first place." Farmers Cooperative is a full service cooperative with products and services offered in Energy, Grain, Feed, Agronomy, and TBA departments. The corporate office is in Dorchester, and facilities are located in 35 other communities.

1 comment:

  1. The cooperative is a real plus for our area. We have alot of untapped opportunity due to the grain and rail cars that come to Dorchester. I'm optimistic that secondary business can be brought to the Dorchester area because of our co-op.

    ReplyDelete

Village Dweller checks all reader comments to determine if they are appropriate for print.