The recent agreement between Growmark and Luckey Farmers Inc. marks a strategic expansion into the Eastern Corn Belt.
Key Details of the Partnership
Access to Proprietary FS Products: Luckey Farmers gains the ability to sell FS-branded products. This is something Cory Winstead, Growmarks’s Vice President of Member Resources, says helps members “differentiate themselves from the marketplace.”
Key brands include:
- Dieselex Gold and FS Lubricants
- FS InVision (Seed Corn) and FS HiSoy (Soybeans)
- Supply Chain Integration: Luckey Farmers will now participate in the Growmark supply chain. Luckey Farmers Inc. operates across Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan, providing comprehensive services through its grain marketing, agronomy, energy, and livestock feed divisions.
Since Growmark already services Legacy FS in Ohio, this partnership leverages existing logistics to move product efficiently through the region.
- Strategic Geography: While Growmark’s core has traditionally been Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin, Cory emphasized that they have been looking at Ohio for years to build relationships and expand their portfolio of products to new farmers.
Understanding “Associate Membership”
Winstead clarified the distinction between the two types of Growmark relationships:
- FS Member: Receives a high level of service, including training, succession planning, board governance, and strategic financial analysis. Growmark staff act as an “extension of the staff” for these companies.
- Associate Member: Primarily focused on product access and supply chain benefits, receiving a “lower level” of the above services while maintaining their independent identity.
Market Trends and Farmer Impact
Despite industry trends toward consolidation, Winstead specified that this is not a merger. Instead, it is a partnership designed to provide Luckey Farmers with “more tools in their tool belt.”
- Exclusivity: While Luckey Farmers is encouraged to do 100% of their business with Growmark, the agreement allows them the flexibility to purchase from other suppliers if necessary.
- Future Tools: Associate members may also gain access to digital tools like the MyFS Agronomy app.
