Superior Ag and Premier Companies could combine into single coop

Following a joint meeting on July 24 and an official vote on August 12, the Boards of Directors for Superior Ag and Premier Companies collectively announced that they will be entering into an exploration process around unifying their farmer-owned cooperatives.

Both independently successful, this decision didn’t come out of a place of necessity, but instead from a strategic position of commitment to innovation and even deeper value for their farmer-members, said the coops in a joint press release.

Both cooperatives have strong legacies in the agricultural landscape of Indiana and the surrounding states. As the marketplace continues to change, both feel that it is important to stay at the forefront and assess how they can best serve their members now and in the future. Simply, it represents an agreement to participate in an open, thorough, and good-faith exploration of whether unification could strengthen our members’ interests, operational capabilities, and long-term sustainability.

“After initial discussions, the Boards of Directors from Superior Ag and Premier see potential and clear benefits that we need to explore,” explained Adrian Stunkel, Chairman of Superior Ag Board of Directors. “Our goal with this announcement is to keep our membership updated and create an open dialogue to share information as this process progresses.”

Early exploration revealed that a unified cooperative could bring substantial benefits, including increased buying power, better market access and consistent supply, expanded employee opportunities, financial cost savings, and greater reinvestment into facilities and operations.

Fred Uhl, Chairman of the Premier Ag Board, further stated, “Conversations with the Superior Ag Board have gone well. There are clear synergies as well as identifiable advantages to our member-owners as well as employees as we consider a possible future together.”

Moving forward, both boards will begin a formal study to assess potential synergies of a combined organization. Additional details about the discussion timeline and opportunities for member input will be shared in the coming weeks. To learn more, visit SuperiorAg.com and PremierAg.com.