LOREN MOAK NAMED TRUCK DRIVER OF THE YEAR INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Pictured: Agtegra Millwright Corey Klingensmith welds a platform that he designed onto the Mansfield grain elevator. Read more about how Corey turned his hobby into an on-thejob solution on page 4.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President
Rick Osterday | Java, SD
First Vice President
Heather Beaner | Mellette, SD
Second Vice President
Matt Johnson | Webster, SD
Secretary
Steve Halverson | Pierre, SD
Directors
Chad Boekelheide | Northville, SD
Glen Crawford | Aberdeen, SD
Joel Erickson | Langford, SD
Jay Esser | Redfield, SD
Chris Eymer | Reliance, SD
Wallace Knock | Willow Lake, SD
Matt Micheel | Cavour, SD
Steve Pfeifer | McLaughlin, SD
Randy Sell | Oakes, ND
Kim Vanneman | Winner, SD
Andy Weisser | Roscoe, SD
Nonvoting Advisory Directors
Garrett Masat | Redfield, SD
Casey Nilsson | Mansfield, SD
MORE INFORMATION
To learn more about Agtegra's governance, visit agtegra.com/ governance, or scan the QR code below!
CONTACT US
605-225-5500 | www.agtegra.com
Copyright 2025 Agtegra Cooperative. All rights reserved.
Agtegra Cooperative is a local agricultural cooperative headquartered in Aberdeen, South Dakota. It is owned by over 7,000 farmers and ranchers, predominantly in North and South Dakota, with a network of over 70 locations and 900 employees.
FROM THE CEO
JASON KLOOTWYK
JASON.KLOOTWYK@AGTEGRA.COM
Hello!
With much anticipation, we have been looking ahead to the warmer days and sunshine of our spring agronomy season. Agtegra Cooperative had another incredible harvest season for grain receipts. While mother nature definitely took the top off the 2024 soybean crop, corn yields exceeded expectations throughout Agtegra territory. This led to record grain volumes at many locations and overall daily record volumes for the entire company. The lack of precipitation during harvest meant many locations worked as many as 45 days in a row without a break. I want to thank our employees for the long hours and dedication to serving our customers as we dumped trucks, piled grain and loaded trains.
Our merchandising team aggressively sold corn and soybeans throughout the harvest season, and we are making rapid progress on shipping our stored inventories, especially those bushels that had to be piled on the ground. To this end, our investment in EGT and the port location in Longview, Washington, have paid significant dividends for Agtegra’s customers through market access and special programs like the soybean moisture discount we were able to run in the fall. Agtegra has now become a major player in the grain export industry, and we have incredible business partners at Bunge and Pan Ocean to work with.
The dry weather this fall limited our early fall application window. However, rain events at the end of October dramatically improved soil conditions for spreading and working ground, and we were able to catch up on fall application needs throughout November and into December. We feel good about the acres we were able to cover this fall and believe we are well-positioned for the spring agronomy season. Additionally, we polled the Agtegra Delegate Council at our annual delegate meeting in mid-December, and most felt they were in good shape heading into spring planting.
For the 2025 fiscal year, Agtegra's board of directors approved $52 million in capital expenditures to replace and upgrade equipment and machinery. In response to our second record grain harvest, the board approved an additional $42 million to be spent on grain storage and handling equipment to remove bottlenecks at key locations and increase to improve our customer service. Many of our facility improvement projects are either complete or well under way.
While we will still pursue growth where appropriate, most of our focus this year will be on our core businesses. This includes enhancing our safety programs, streamlining processes, completing many facility improvements and upgrades and investing in our employees. Done right, my hope is this contributes to our success and to yours as a customer!
Thank you for your business!
ENGINEERING INNOVATIVE METHODS
Agtegra Cooperative employee Corey Klingensmith applies personal hobby to on-the-job solutions.
When equipment challenges or repair needs arise at one of our facilities, Agtegra Cooperative’s maintenance team is quick to respond. Responsible for the maintenance of Agtegra’s grain elevators, buildings, warehouses and other equipment, this crew of electricians, millwrights, and special operations personnel work diligently to ensure the safety of our facilities, and more importantly, our employees.
In some cases, the maintenance team must communicate with
equipment manufacturers to order new parts to replace the ones that are in disrepair. However, situations arise where the original manufacturer is unable to fabricate the part needed to fix the piece of equipment, and the team has to get creative in finding a new solution.
For Agtegra Millwright Corey Klingensmith, “getting creative” in solving an issue with a grain elevator leg plate started at home with his Computer-Aided Design (CAD) programming skills.
“My interest in CAD started when I was about 19 or 20 years old – about the same time that 3-D printing really kicked off,” says Corey. “I bought my first 3-D printer around that time so that I could print and see what my computer designs really looked like.”
Using his CAD program, Corey was able to design a plate for an elevator leg at Agtegra's Andover location last year. The original plate had eroded over time and needed to be replaced. After issues arose in having the original
equipment manufacturer fabricate a replacement part, Corey realized he could design the same thing with his own software instead.
“The modeling software that I have at home allowed me to design the plate in 3-D to match what we needed,” says Corey.
After designing the part, Corey exported the design to a local shop to fabricate it. As a result, the team was able to obtain the same quality of a replacement in a much shorter time span and more competitive price. This time savings meant less downtime for the elevator, and in turn, less downtime for grain customers.
A new world of opportunities
The Andover leg project was just the beginning of Corey’s engineering and design projects at Agtegra.
Last summer, Corey began working on building a service platform on the Mansfield grain elevator. Due to the age of the elevator, one was not installed when the elevator was
Agtegra Millwright Corey Klingensmith with his CAD software
ENGINEERING
Corey welds the service platform he designed at the Mansfield elevator.
originally built, and a customized one was necessary for employees to safely access the bin and perform any maintenance on it.
After measuring the elevator’s dimensions, Corey was able to design a new platform for it with CAD. Because the platform only required channel iron, the maintenance team was able to cut, weld and install Corey’s design themselves.
Another set of projects Corey has designed for Agtegra includes gussets for grain elevator legs. A gusset, typically consisting of a plate-shaped metal component, structurally reinforces the elevator leg to provide additional support and stability. Placed at critical points on the leg, gussets help distribute loads more evenly to prevent the leg from buckling from stress or force.
Over time, the original leg’s gusset began to transfer the force of the gearbox into the metal trunking, which caused the leg’s belt to rub against the trunking of the leg. Eventually, this repeated friction and the weight of the gearbox buckled the trunking into the belt, which can pose operational problems if left unfixed.
Seeing that the original length of the gusset was ultimately causing the issue, Corey modified the gusset’s original design in CAD to create a longer and safer version to alleviate the force and friction that caused the original one to start buckling.
“I simply took the original design and modified it to be safer for the elevator,” says Corey. “Some elevator parts, when first manufactured, are not made to be perfect forever, especially after being exposed to
years of weather and age, so by modifying fittings and extending dimensions, we can alleviate the problem right here ourselves.”
Aside from grain elevator projects, Corey has also designed drive-over grates for the new concrete center pile pad port at Alpena’s grain facility. To help seal the conveyor underneath the pile, drive-over grates were needed to both support loads and be removable.
"There was no 'off-the-shelf' option, so we needed a custom design to make the project a reality."
Because of Corey’s design work, Alpena’s center pile pad port now has 23 drive-over grates that fit the facility’s needs.
Revamping Safer Designs
Torque Arm Brackets
Another one of Corey's design projects has included redesigning torque arm brackets on grain elevator legs. Over time, the welds on the original brackets begin to fail, which causes the torque arm bracket to unzip and move, which can then cause the gearbox to also shift while the leg is running. The belts that drive the gearbox come loose as a result. To alleviate the issues caused by these welds failing, Corey designed a new torque arm bracket that did not require welds along those lines by instead incorporating a solid tube design.
The original bracket had welds in two spots that began to fail over time, as noted by the yellow arrows.
Corey's design and newly fabricated bracket utilized a solid tube to alleviate the issues caused by the original welds.
Turning passion into purpose
Corey's skills have provided Agtegra with the opportunity to level up the cooperative's engineering and maintenance capabilities. Since Corey's first design projects, Agtegra has invested in CAD software and computer equipment for Corey and the team to continue engineering projects in the future.
Corey notes how the combination of
CAD and 3-D printing allow him to more easily apply design concepts in real-world scenarios. His passion and knowledge for both have allowed him to transform how he engineers projects at Agtegra.
“If you focus on CAD alone, you don’t see the interactions or conflicts that the design can have in the real world. 3-D printing allows you to modify the design so that it’s safe to use and matches when you fabricate the real thing.”
Corey joined the Agtegra team in the fall of 2023. Prior to coming to Agtegra, Corey worked in the industrial mining and welding industries.
“I’ve always enjoyed manufacturing, building and repairing things. Being able to go out and do what I love every day – repairing, making things work and delivering a solution for the company – is why I joined Agtegra. Between the travel and the people, it’s a great environment to work in,” says Corey.
Gussets + Bearing Perches
As noted in the story text on page six, Corey has designed new gussets for grain elevator legs too. In the below left photo, the bearing perch has visibly settled over time due to the gearbox weight and improper gusset length, which is something Corey realized was flawed with the original manufactured piece. Because of this settling, the perch acted as a fulcrum and buckled the trunking into the belt, which can cause operational issues.
Corey's CAD design for the Alpena drive-over grates compared to the actual grates.
The original bearing perch, noted with the yellow arrow, has settled over time due to the weight of the gearbox (orange arrow) and improper gusseting.
Corey's newly designed gusset is longer, which brings the bearing perch back to its level position and will help keep the bearing perch from settling again.
FY 24
Learn more about Agtegra Cooperative's performance during the 2024 fiscal year! (August 1, 2023 - July 31, 2024)
Agronomy
900 customers took advantage of 0% financing.
Significant improvements made to our custom app notification technology, communicating application progress to customers covering over 3.5 million acres.
Unloaded 14 unit trains of dry fertilizer in season to keep farmers supplied when they needed it most.
One-of-a-kind price protection program on phosphate fertilizer to help farmers mitigate price risk.
Feed
27,000 tons sold despite challenges in poultry industry for most of the year.
Internships
43 students interned throughout the trade territory from 13 colleges and universities.
Operations
Invested over $50 million in capital improvements and additions to strengthen core business.
Energy
A record year with 33 million gallons of fuel and 8.75 million gallons of propane sold.
Delivered over 20 million gallons of propane through our newly acquired transport business.
#1 Cenex premium diesel dealer in the nation and #2 in premium diesel growth nationally.
Monitors added to over 4,000 propane tanks, creating confident comfort for customers.
Grain
Navigated record grain volumes by handling 272 million bushels received, more grain than any previous year on record.
75 million bushels of grain were put in emergency ground storage to help our growers get their crop harvested. All bushels were reclaimed with minimal quality issues.
The EGT partnership made it possible to offer a soybean moisture program that allowed growers to harvest 2% higher moisture and capture $8 million in savings and value at harvest time.
Completed all planned capital projects safely, on time and on budget.
Agtegra Cooperative paid $17.98 million of patronage paid in FY 2024.
2024 ANNUAL MEETING
Agtegra Cooperative held its annual member meeting on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, where leaders announced director and delegate election results and discussed the cooperative’s 2024 performance and vision for the future.
2024 FISCAL YEAR PATRONAGE
Patronage equity is the portion of Agtegra’s profits that are allocated to patrons based on eligibility and how much business that patron did with Agtegra each year.
During its 2024 fiscal year (August 1, 2023July 31, 2024), the Agtegra Cooperative Board of Directors approved $20.6 million in cash patronage payments. Check out the chart on the right to learn more about what each portion of the cooperative's patronage equity is categorized as!
Old Year Qualified Program: Each year, Agtegra's board of directors determines the amount of old year equity to revolve (or pay out) that was previously allocated to patrons. This payment is referred to as an old-year patronage equity payment.
Old Year Non-Qualified Program: Differs from old year qualified, as the allocation is reported as income to the patron in the year it was paid instead of the year it was allocated.
Decedent (Estate) Program: When an individual passes away and they have patronage equity that was allocated to them in their individual name, their estate may apply for payment of their patronage equity.
Age 70 and Age 80 Retirement Program: When an individual reaches the age of 70 or 80 and they have patronage equity that was allocated to them in their individual name, they can apply for payment of the qualified patronage equity in their name. This program is intended to provide farmers and ranchers an opportunity to receive
Patronage Payments Approved in Fiscal Year 2024
Old Year Qualified Program
Old Year Non-Qualified Program
Decedent (Estate) Program
Age 70 and Age 80 Retirement Program
payment of their qualified patronage equity after they retire from farming or ranching. A patron is eligible to apply for the age 70 program once after they reach the age of 70 and once again after they reach the age of 80. An individual can decide when they want to apply after they qualify. If you have an account held in your individual name and you have a birthdate on your account of record, Agtegra will mail you an application. If you have an account held in your individual name and you do not have a birthdate on your account, please contact our patronage department at 605-725-8410.
Inactive Account Program: When a patron's account has been inactive for five years or more and has less than $500 in patronage equity on the account, the Agtegra board of directors may approve the revolvement (payment) of this patronage equity.
Cash Portion of Current Year Allocation: After the end of the fiscal year and completion of the audit, the Agtegra board of directors determines the amount and type (qualified and/or nonqualified) of equity to allocate to the patrons for the prior fiscal year, including the amount that will be paid in cash. A qualified patron will receive an allocation based on the type and amount of business they conducted with Agtegra in the prior fiscal year.
Total Cash Value: Cash patronage approved to be paid out by the Agtegra board of directors for fiscal year 2024.
DIRECTOR ELECTION RESULTS
Joel Erickson Langford, SD District 1
2024
ELECTED DIRECTORS
Jay Esser Redfield, SD District 2
Rick Osterday Java, SD President
Chris Eymer Reliance, SD District 3
Andy Weisser Roscoe, SD District 4
ELECTED OFFICERS
Heather Beaner Mellette, SD First Vice President
Matt Johnson Webster, SD Second Vice President
Matt Micheel Cavour, SD At-Large
Steve Halverson Pierre, SD Secretary
APPOINTED NONVOTING ADVISORY DIRECTORS
Garrett Masat Redfield, SD District 2
Nilsson Mansfield, SD District 1
Casey
2024DELEGATE ELECTION RESULTS
1 DISTRICT
2 DISTRICT
3 DISTRICT
4 DISTRICT
Nathan Duerre Bristol, SD
Colin Dutenhoffer Aberdeen, SD
Nick Jacobson Fullerton, ND
Christofer Nickeson Pierpont, SD
Darin Wiedebush Mansfield, SD
Kurt Bindenagel Frankfort, SD
Andrew Boomsma Wolsey, SD
Christopher Heinricy Colman, SD
Brian Johnson Frankfort, SD
Keith Lambert Frankfort, SD
Kelvin Grey St. Lawrence, SD
Doug Halverson Kennebec, SD
Norval Millard Presho, SD
Andy Rankin Draper, SD
Dennis Simons St. Lawrence, SD
Troy Beck Artas, SD
Kelly Bosch Strasburg, ND
Jason Fauth Leola, SD
Charles Hettich Roscoe, SD
Terry Ulrich Ashley, ND
THANK YOU
2024 NONVOTING ADVISORY DIRECTORS
ABOUT NONVOTING ADVISORY DIRECTORS
Agtegra's Board of Directors may appoint up to two nonvoting advisory directors to serve a one-year term every year. The position helps provide members interested in serving on the board the unique opportunity to attend, observe and participate in board and committee meetings.
RETIRING DIRECTOR
SD
Jordan Nitschke Jud, ND
Scott Baumiller Hazelton, ND
Jeff Lakner Wessington,
Pictured: Jeff Lakner gives retiring remarks at the 2024 Agtegra Cooperative Annual Meeting.
ENERGY GROWTH
Agtegra Cooperative's newly acquired Milbank location consists of a c-store, bulk fuel and propane assets.
GROWTH
In December 2024, Agtegra Cooperative acquired the assets of UPI Petroleum, a c-store and bulk fuel and propane business in Milbank, South Dakota.
“This acquisition represents a significant step forward in our commitment to serving rural communities with energy solutions. This facility not only enhances our operational capabilities but also strengthens our ties with the local community. We look forward to investing in and working alongside Milbank area residents," says Milt Handcock, Agtegra Senior Vice President of Energy & Feed.
Fueling cooperative patronage
Agtegra's energy business sells Cenex fuel and lubricant products. Cenex is a division of CHS, Inc., and because of the cooperative structure of CHS, Agtegra earns patronage from CHS every time a Cenex
product is sold from Agtegra, which in turn, benefits Agtegra's memberowners.
"Any time a c-store customer buys a gallon of Cenex petroleum at our pumps, that generates patronage, which Agtegra has the opportunity to pass on to our memberowners."
- Milt Handcock, SVP of Energy & Feed
The addition of Milbank to Agtegra's geography comes a little over a year after adding Twin Brooks to the location map. The Milbank business lies only six miles east of Agtegra's Twin Brooks location on U.S. Highway 12. While Twin Brooks handles primarily agronomy and feed products at their facility, the addition of the Milbank energy business provides opportunities for
Agtegra to serve customers on the eastern portion of its footprint in a more efficient way.
"Milbank bolts right on to our existing refined fuels and propane routes and will allow us to fill gaps on our outer edges. Our current and prospective agricultural customers in the area who already purchase agronomy inputs from us will be able to more easily take advantage of our whole-farm programs, such as Triple Play," says Milt.
Since the acquisition, Milbank area fuel customers can now utilize Agtegra fuel cards at the Milbank fuel pumps. Bulk customers now have access to Cenex premium bulk fuel as well.
Interested in learning more about bulk fuel and propane products and services in the Milbank area? Contact our petroleum line at 605-725-8580 for more details!
The fuel pumps and c-store will soon sport the Agtegra Cooperative logo and signage at the location.
SECTION 199A(g) IMPACT
Section 199A(g) is a federal tax deduction that applies to proceeds from agricultural goods produced and marketed by farmer cooperatives. The deduction benefits farmer-owned cooperatives and their member-owners, as cooperatives often pass a significant portion of the deduction through to their member-owners.
Section 199A(g) has been a highpriority government affairs topic for farmer-owned cooperatives over the past year because it is set to expire at the end of 2025. The original version, known as Section 199, was first enacted in 2004 and was most recently extended in 2018 when it became 199A(g).
Since 2004, Agtegra Cooperative has passed through millions of dollars in federal tax savings to its member-owners, in addition to utilizing tax savings from Section 199A(g) to reinvest and improve facilities across its trade territory in North Dakota and South Dakota.
Impacting farmers & their operations
When farmer-owned cooperatives pass through this deduction to its member-owners, farmers can use these federal tax savings to reinvest in their own farms and rural communities.
Agtegra's member-owners have been able to see the impact of this tax savings on their operations. From purchasing equipment to improving their operation to expanding their businesses, these member-owners have been positively impacted when Agtegra has passed through the Section 199A(g) tax deduction to their farms.
Scott Baumiller Hazelton, ND
"The tax savings from Section 199A(g), have allowed me to reinvest that money into improving my farm. Farmers have significant expenses, and this federal tax deduction helps decrease my tax bill so I can continue reinvesting in my operation. Any time you can put money back in the pockets of our agricultural producers is great for the local economy. When farmers spend money, it grows in the community. Section 199A(g) is a great way to get money into our rural communities."
Construction on Agtegra's Kennebec 135' bin (far right) was completed in 2020. Section 199A(g) tax savings from the time of the project helped cover a portion of the project's capital expense.
Nicole Erasmus Huron, SD
"With the tax savings from Section 199A(g), we have been able to purchase a seed tender for our farm, which allows us to do more logistical planning agronomically through things such as seed trialing on our farm. Extending Section 199A(g) will provide the opportunity to continue getting money into farmers’ hands so that we can reinvest it into our communities and keep our agronomic sector strong within those communities."
Quentin Larson Pollock, SD
"In the farming industry, you’re always buying something new, and any deduction is always a positive for us. We utilize the savings we’ve received as a result of Section 199A(g) heavily, especially the way the ag markets have been. Overall, Section 199A(g) strengthens both the cooperative and the farmer’s ability to function."
Eric Zell Cavour, SD
"Section 199A(g) tax savings have allowed me to expand my business and purchase equipment as needed. This tax deduction allows our cooperatives to grow stronger and, when they can, pass it through to our member-owners, which allows us to benefit and grow because of it too. Section 199A(g) has incredible value to the cooperative system."
Reinvesting Across Our Rural Geography
Because of Section 199A(g), Agtegra has been able to reinvest $40 million over the last ten years. As a result, Agtegra has reinvested these dollars back into its facilities across its rural geography. A few examples, over the past decade have included the following, denoted by their fiscal year (FY), in addition to the photo on the top of the left page.
Bath Fertilizer Bin Expansion (FY 2024)
Oakes Agronomy Warehouse Rebuild (FY 2023)
Mellette 135' Bin (FY 2022)
McLaughlin Agronomy Center (FY 2018)
DIRECTOR WALLACE KNOCK Spotlight
Wallace Knock and his wife, Kathy, farm with their son, Jared, and his wife, Kati, and their daughter, Jennifer, and her husband, Joe. Together, they run a diversified crop and livestock farm where he grows corn, soybeans and hay, runs cow/calf pairs, custom feeds pigs and lambs out ewes.
Wallace attended South Dakota State University, completed Leadership Education Program courses through the South Dakota Association of Cooperatives and was a member of Class III of South Dakota Agricultural and Rural Leadership (SDARL).
In addition to being an active member of South Dakota’s Cattlemen’s, Pork Producers, and Corn Growers organizations, Wallace served for 19 years on his local school board and 31 years on other local cooperative boards, including the Dakotaland Feeds Board of Governors and South Dakota Value-Added Center Board of Directors.
No other business model combines customer, owner, and governance into one person. As a customer, I do business with the co-op. As an owner, I share in the profits and help capitalize on the business. I have oversight responsibilities for governance, and I help direct strategy and policy for the business. Without governance, these do not exist. I see this opportunity as a chance to make this co-op as relevant to future generations as it has been to me.
-
Wallace Knock
He has served on Agtegra Cooperative and its legacy cooperative’s board for 23 years and is currently a Clark County commissioner.
Wallace's vision for Agtegra is to keep it relevant far into the future, both in the industry's eyes and in the eyes of its member-owners. This will require acquiring and retaining the best talent available, prudent use of the balance sheet to purchase assets and technology that benefit our memberowners and reinforcing the culture that cooperatives exist for the benefit of their member-owners. Wallace believes that the real litmus test for decisions in the board room is not what's best for Agtegra but what will benefit all its member-owners most.
Pictured: (Left): Wallace visits with members at the 2024 Agtegra Annual Meeting. (Right): Wallace (middle) received the Farmer Co-op Director of the Year award from the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives in 2024.
LOREN MOAK NAMED TRUCK DRIVER OF THE YEAR
Agtegra Cooperative Truck Driver Loren Moak received the 2024 South Dakota Trucking Association Driver of the Year award at the SDTA annual convention held last fall.
After being selected as the November 2023 Driver of the Month by the SDTA, Loren joined 11 other nominees from across the state to interview for the award at the convention. Following the interviews, the SDTA made the announcement of Loren's selection.
"I was surprised, happy and grateful to be selected from the field of 12 nominees for the award," says Loren.
Loren has over 40 years of driving experience, with over 24 of those being in propane delivery.
"In recognition of Loren’s outstanding dedication, commitment to customer service, and exemplary safety practices, we are proud to celebrate him being awarded the South Dakota Driver of the Year award. Loren has
over 23 years with no safety incidents while traveling over 1 million miles during that time," says Agtegra Propane Operations & Logistics Manager Josh Lunzman.
Over the past five years of his time with Agtegra Cooperative, he has delivered propane across the region to Agtegra customers.
"My favorite part about my job is getting to know the customers - it's all about serving them," says Loren.
Loren is the first Agtegra driver to ever receive this prestigious honor from SDTA.
"Loren’s hard work, dedication to safety, passion, integrity, and positive attitude, makes a significant impact on our workplace culture here at Agtegra. We are grateful for Loren’s continued efforts, and we celebrate his
invaluable contributions. Loren, thank you for being an extraordinary member of the Agtegra family," says Josh.
Loren and his wife, Nyla, reside in Selby, South Dakota. They have two adult children, Jenna and Kendra, and five granddaughters.
Loren and his wife, Nyla, with Loren's awards at the 2024 SDTA annual convention.
Cooperative Director Randy Sell attended a U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations Field Hearing last August at Grand Farm near Wheatland, North Dakota. U.S. Senator John Hoeven brought this field hearing to North Dakota on Perspectives on the Future of Agriculture Research and Technology to discuss key issues in agriculture. In the photo, from left to right, are U.S. Senators Tina Smith, John Boozman, John Hoeven and Amy Klobuchar.
Last July, Agtegra Cooperative’s Senior Vice President of Grain Marketing & Rail Logistics Travis Antonsen had the privilege of testifying in Washington, D.C., at a U.S. House Agriculture Subcommittee hearing on reauthorizing the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The National Council of Farmer Cooperatives and U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson provided Travis the opportunity to testify on behalf of Agtegra Cooperative and its 7,000+ member-owners about why America’s farmers and ranchers need to continue to have access to new and relevant risk management products.
The Aberdeen Area Chamber of Commerce Agribusiness Luncheon was held during the Brown County Fair in Aberdeen, South Dakota, last August. U.S. Senators John Thune and Mike Rounds discussed the Farm Bill and other key ag issues important to Agtegra and our member-owners during the visit. In the photo, from left to right, are U.S. Senator Mike Rounds, Agtegra Senior Vice President & General Counsel, Government Affairs Mike Traxinger, Agtegra Senior Vice President of Grain Marketing & Rail Logistics Travis Antonsen, Agtegra Vice President of Marketing & Communications Melissa Dykema and U.S. Senator John Thune.
GOVERNMENT
Learn more about Agtegra Cooperative's involvement with state and national leaders and organizations as they work together for our agricultural member-owners.
Agtegra
U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson visited our agronomy, grain and propane facilities near Bath, South Dakota, in October 2024. Chief Executive Officer Jason Klootwyk gave Congressman Johnson a tour and discussed the importance of getting a Farm Bill done, the need to extend the Section 199A(g) tax deduction before it expires in 2025, the importance of agricultural trade, and other key issues affecting Agtegra and our member-owners. In the photo, from left to right, are Agtegra Grebner Grain Location Manager Kenneth Miller, U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson and Agtegra CEO Jason Klootwyk.
This February, Agtegra Cooperative Director Wallace Knock (second from the left) had the opportunity to speak on a Tax, Legal and Accounting panel on the topic of communicating with in-house and outside advisors at the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives Annual Meeting.
Agtegra Cooperative hosted a legislative dinner for South Dakota state legislators on February 10th in Pierre in addition to participating in Ag Co-op Day at the Capitol on February 11th. At the time of printing this publication, Agtegra also has plans to host a dinner and educational event with North Dakota legislators in March.
AFFAIRS
LOCAL
For the second year in a row, Agtegra Cooperative's Local Ag Forum event attracts over 400 attendees to the DEX in Huron.
It's no secret that the "winter downtime" often turns into meeting season for many in the agriculture industry. Historically, Agtegra was no exception; from grain marketing meetings to livestock nutrition trainings, a farmer's calendar quickly became bogged down with industry events all winter long.
To alleviate this saturation of wintertime meetings, Agtegra pivoted to a new method of providing high-quality educational content to our member-owners
during the winter through one single event. Introduced in February 2024, Local Ag Forum was created to combine agronomy, precision technology, grain, energy, and livestock topics with keynote speakers and breakout sessions for all types of farming and ranching operations. This event, hosted inside the DEX facility on the South Dakota State Fairgrounds in Huron, allows for collaboration, hands-on education with equipment (in the dirt!), industry partner interactions, a multitude of session options
throughout the day, and so much more.
Hosted again in February 2025, Local Ag Forum also included new session topics. In addition to the hands-on planter and ag technology sessions, grain marketing updates, livestock nutrition education, agronomic plot trial results and vendor fair, this year's event included sessions on patronage and premium diesel products, a careers in agriculture panel geared for the students in attendance, opportunities to trial
The "bulls" team prepares for their next debate during the bulls vs. bears session.
Director of Global Research for CHS Market Advisors Kenneth Scott Zuckerberg presents his keynote on the changing winds of agriculture.
Agtegra Huron Innovation Center Operations Manager Patrick Wetzel shows the planter's furrows to the breakout session attendees.
Attendees gather for the keynote speaker.
Agtegra Energy Sales and Logistics Manager Jeremy Lozenski talks about the benefits of Thunder Creek fuel trailers.
Agtegra Director of Agronomy Technical Services Brad Ruden emphasizes how growers can hit new corn yield goals with proven products.
AG FORUM
our application simulator and a bulls vs. bears game show where market experts debated whether corn, soybeans, wheat and fertilizer markets were turning bullish or bearish.
Not only do farmers have the opportunity to visit with Agtegra's industry partners throughout the day at the vendor fair, but some partners also help present on topics during breakout sessions too, which allows Agtegra to provide customers with access to even more resources.
"This is a really beneficial event to allow our growers to talk to not just our employees, but also our industry partners and to get even more information and data in front of them" says Agtegra Director of Origination Kendall Frahm.
Agtegra Huron Innovation Center Precision Ag Equipment Technician Bryce Dannenbring visits with an attendee about precision technology.
Agtegra Redfield Grain & Energy Location Manager Darian Browning talks about his career with Agtegra during the careers panel.
Student attendees participate in the "Heads + Tails" game during the student breakout session.
Attendees enjoy lunch in the general session seating area.
Agtegra Bath Innovation Center Operations Manager Lance Larsen shows attendees how to optimize application with technology upgrades.
The planter sessions drew standing-room-only crowds throughout the day.
HURON, SD | SD STATE FAIRGROUNDS
FEATURING:
with special guest
Ticket Qualifications:
Taking advantage of the comprehensive portfolio Agtegra Cooperative has to offer benefits your farm, Agtegra and the community you live in. We’re celebrating our employees and member-owners who support Agtegra’s whole offering with a summer concert!
PURCHASE OR SELL A MINIMUM OF $5,000 IN EACH CATEGORY TO RECEIVE CONCERT TICKETS!
CATEGORIES:
4 categories = 2 tickets
5 categories = 4 tickets
6 categories = 6 tickets
7 categories = 8 tickets and 2 VIP passes
8 categories = 10 tickets and 4 VIP passes
Qualifying purchase dates: August 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025. Performance will be held August 2, 2025, at the State Fairgrounds in Huron, SD. Agtegra Cooperative employees will receive 2 tickets. Reach out to your local Agtegra salesperson with any questions regarding ticket qualifications.
accommodations:
Hotels: Rooms in Huron will book up quickly - please keep this in mind as you arrange lodging. Hotel information can be found online at our website, listed below.
Camping: Have a camper or planning to rent one? Camping at the state fairgrounds on August 1st and 2nd will be free thanks to our generous sponsors! Camping spots are first come, first serve, and no reservations are taken.
Buses: Again this year, buses will be traveling across Agtegra territory to get our guests to and from the event safely on the day of August 2nd. Please stay tuned for more information on bus routes to and from your area by watching for more information on our website, social media channels and text reminders.
Stay tuned for more details!
Appreciation Night is more than just our evening concert featuring Warren Zeiders and Sammy Kershaw! Stay tuned for more details about our schedule of events for the day: sign up for text reminders about the event by texting COOP to 844-517-0729. Details will also be announced on our website and social media channels as they become available. Tickets to the event will be mailed in July to qualifying customers and employees.
GIVE YOUR CROPS A BETTER START WITH 8-20 & A7-23
STARTER FERTILIZERS
STARTER FERTILIZERS CUSTOM BUILT FOR AGTEGRA FARMERS.
8-20 and A7-23 starter fertilizers are formulated and manufactured right here in Agtegra country at our Prescription Agronomics facility in Ipswich, SD. These products have gone through rigorous testing in our local SD & ND plots to make sure they are compatible with our soils and conditions and are ready to go to work for Agtegra farmers!
Getting the crop off to a solid start early has proven to result in an average increase of 8 bu/ac over the past 5 years in corn and 3 bu/ac in soybeans!
Starter fertilizer promotes rapid, even emergence and establishes sound, strong plants early, resulting in yield gains. Give your crops a better start with 8-20 and A7-23 starter fertilizers!
CORN | 5 Year Average Yield Gain
When applying 8-20 or A7-23 starter fertilizer to corn
SOYBEANS | 5 Year Average Yield Gain
When applying A7-23 starter fertilizer to soybeans Starter
Let's talk about COWS
K I D S' C O R N E R
Cows have been part of human culture and society for over 10,000 years.
There are over 800 different cattle breeds.
Cows can see almost 360 degrees.
Cows spend about 8 hours a day chewing and chewing 40-50 times a minute.
Cows sleep standing up, but they also lay on the ground.
The rumen, their stomach with 4 parts, can hold up to 50 gallons of food. Just for perspective, a bathtub can hold about 30-50 gallons of water.
A Holstein has lots of black spots which are unique and like fingerprints.
Agtegra Cooperative's livestock nutrition partner, Dakotaland Feeds, was formed in 2000 as a joint venture between Farmland Industries (now part of Land O'Lakes Purina Animal Nutrition) and both of Agtegra's legacy cooperatives, South Dakota Wheat Growers and North Central Farmers Elevator. Today, Dakotaland Feeds manufactures and distributes dry feeds, minerals and liquid supplements, and Dakotaland Feeds sales representatives work with Agtegra Feed locations to ensure customers have the feed they need when and where they need it. Hear from Dakotaland Feeds Staff Nutritionist, Roxanne Knock, about nutritional considerations for this spring season!
If you’re a cattle producer, calving may have already started for you or will start before long. Once the calves are on the ground, our attention sometimes gets taken off the cows and directed toward the farming operation. But now is a critical time to get the cows ready for the next breeding season.
Nutrient demands are highest as cows go into lactation. This makes it essential to get the right feed in front of the cow. If we short the cows on any nutrients right now, it will negatively impact her chance to re-breed and to do so on time. It can also negatively impact her milk production, and we could lose out on weaning weight.
We have options for energy and protein supplements that will fit any operation. Mixer wagons work wonders to help blend off rougher hay with some silage or distillers, allowing us to make use of feed that might otherwise be wasted. We can
put a supplement in your wagon to provide all the minerals, vitamins and medication, which helps us make sure all the cows receive it and controls our cost by not allowing overconsumption. Tubs or blocks can also fit when mud prevents the feed wagon from running. Cubes are an option if you are just feeding bales; they allow you to supply some additional protein and the required vitamins and minerals while still controlling costs.
Bum calves are often thought of as a waste of time, but with the markets the way they are, these calves are worth a little bit of effort. Using a solid nutrition program for these calves can help get them to fit in with your calves in the fall. That means utilizing a high-potential milk replacer like LAND O LAKES® Amplifier® Max. The Amplifer® Max milk replacer is a 22% protein, 20% fat blend that contains unique probiotics and prebiotics to help optimize feed intake and gain while
establishing a favorable gut bacterial population. While getting milk, the calves should be introduced to dry feed with the Purina® AMPLI-CALF® Grower and then to the Intense Calf® whole shelled corn mixer program.
The Intense Calf® pellet is easy to use because you mix it with 66-75% whole shelled corn - that’s it - pellets and corn. We want the calves to eat about as much as they want. We can put this in a self-feeder if the calves are well acclimated to feed. Along with some good quality grass hay, this can turn your calves into gaining, healthy-looking calves. Many times, calves do not receive adequate protein for their young stage of life, which leaves them looking pot-bellied and lightmuscled. Adequate protein is a must for these calves, and that is what the Intense Calf® provides. You couldn’t ask for a simpler program that works this well.
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• Fill your tank full with no diesel limits
• Lock in pricing by contracting fuel or gas
• Track fleet vehicle fuel usage
• Connect multiple cards to your account
• Use at any Agtegra cardtrol
• Pay your balance monthly online
• Qualified patrons are eligible for patronage on fuel purchases
