Producer members vote to merge co-ops

CANFIELD, Ohio — It’s a go! The Agland Co-op, Inc. and the Green Valley Co-op are merging.

Members of Agland Co-op, Inc., Canfield, and Green Valley Co-op, Inc., Marietta, voted to approve a merger between the two farm supply and grain cooperatives April 15. Agland producer-members approved the merger by 86 percent, and 89 percent of Green Valley members voted in favor of it.

The merged cooperative will be effective Sept. 1, and will be incorporated as Agland Co-op with headquarters at New Philadelphia, Ohio.

“Green Valley has many good people who will bring value to Agland,” said Doug Martig, Agland board chair. “As their area is closer proximity to the shale oil fields, the merged company will be able to improve efficiency in delivering fuel to the oil fields,” he adds.

In addition, Green Valley produces more feed, and together, feed manufacturing and merchandising should be  enhanced for the new cooperative.

Once the new cooperative begins operations, the CEO of the cooperative will be Jeff Osentoski. Ed Harra, CEO of Green Valley, will assume a leadership role in the new organization.

The combined co-op will have approximately 200 employees and will serve customers from 24 locations in 20 eastern Ohio counties, as well as areas of western Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia. Cooperative business leaders estimate the combined organization’s sales will be approximately $320 million. The cooperative will continue to market energy products under 1st Country Store.