Three northwestern Wisconsin co-ops to merge

Three northwestern Wisconsin agricultural cooperatives will merge October 1st. The members of Cedar Country Cooperative of Elk Mound, Lakeland Cooperative of Ridgeland and United Ag Cooperative of Almena voted to complete the deal. United Ag Cooperative's General Manager Dave Schoonover says, "We got a solid go-ahead from our membership, so it's full steam ahead."

Schoonover tells Brownfield four members from each co-op's board will serve on the merged organization's new board of directors. "Those 12 members have been identified. From what I'm hearing, from the discussions here today (4/27), given the wet weather conditions and whatnot, that new board, I think they're planning to be here sometime within the next week if they can schedule it, and then beyond that, who will lead the organization? I would anticipate (that person would) be selected I would hope in the next six weeks, maybe prior to that."

The board will also choose a new name for the combined cooperative.

Schoonover says all three co-ops intend to improve customer service and give customers the ability to do business at any of the existing field offices.

Cedar Country, Lakeland, and United Ag presently operate agronomy, grain, feed, and fuel services along with convenience stores, a farm equipment dealership, and a repair facility.