2015 MKC Annual Report

CELEBRATING

THE PAST. FOCUSING

ON THE

FUTURE. 2015 ANNUAL REPORT

OUR MISSION To be our customers leading supplier of quality inputs and services and marketer of our customers products, thus enabling our current and emerging stakeholders to achieve their goals, while improving the profitability of all.

OUR VISION MKC will be a highly-valued, customer-focused business, engaged in profitable relationships, with high business ethics and employee satisfaction.

OUR CORE VALUES • • • • • •

Building lasting relationships through shared success Environmental and community stewardship Integrity and honesty Safe practices Best management practices Achievement through initiative, knowledge and innovation

OUR OBJECTIVES AND PERSPECTIVES CUSTOMER

EMPLOYEE

BUILD THE BRAND EMPLOY THE BEST PEOPLE MAINTAIN GROWTH IMPROVE PROFITABILITY ORGANIZATIONAL RENEWAL

FINANCIAL AND GROWTH

DISTRICT 2

DISTRICT 1

OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

CECIL WIEBE

CJ BLEW

JASON GAEDDERT

KEITH BECKER

NEAL BEAM

DUANE JOHNSON

DAVID MILLS Secretary

DISTRICT 3

MYRON VOTH Vice Chairman

AT-LARGE

Chairman

DIRECTORS

RANDY ELLWOOD

KENNY CARLTON Associate Director

HAL MAYER

Appointed Director

ALLAN WEGNER

Appointed Director

DAVE CHRISTIANSEN President and CEO

Detailed biographical information on the MKC Board of Directors is available at mkcoop.com.

MKC ANNUAL REPORT 2015

3

LEADERSHIP LETTER

There is no doubt as an organization we should things. However, there is more to it than buying take pride in the fact there are few businesses power, expense reduction and market leverin the country who have been in business for 50 age. It is about the mindset that has to resonate years. Over the past 50 years, the leadership of throughout the company, beginning in the board MKC created the expectation we would continroom. The mindset being your co-op is willing ue to grow and change to meet the constantly to make investments in people, technology and evolving demands of our industry and our meminfrastructure that will be beneficial to grower ber-owners. We have managed to continue to success. Scale does little for you if you contingrow and change ue to execute an and for that reaantiquated busison, if no other, we Over the past 50 years, the leadership ness strategy and should take pride of MKC created the expectation we leadership that and yes, even celeis steeped in the would continue to grow and change to preservation in brate.

However, any meet the constantly evolving demands only what you do celebration should today. of our industry and our member-owners. While MKC had be tempered with the mindset we are a successful year fistill in the process of developing our plan rathnancially, we take as much pride in the moves we er than any sense of completion. The founding made to continuously position this company for members laid forth a clear path we have simply the next decade or more. We’ve added exceptioncontinued to follow. That path, which rings true ally talented employees to our company in every even more today, was to provide a business which area and at almost every location. We hosted our would help our customers be more successful second Emerging Producer Program for growers working together than they ever would indeunder 40 years of age. Nearly 100 young, active pendently. It has worked and will continue to farmers attended and encouraged us to hold it work as long as we stay focused on the future. again. We had a great turnout at our first ConOne thing that is certainly beneficial to our gressional Staff Day. We shared how MKC can be success is each year more and more people are a resource to the decision makers in Washington discovering the advantages of MKC. Last year D.C. who impact your farm and MKC every day.

282 new members joined your cooperative.

This is another area where MKC can provide input This doesn’t account for the 3,193 members and hopefully influence on your behalf. who joined through the successful merger with Our most recent merger partner, Farmers’ Farmers’ Cooperative Association. Many of these Cooperative Association, being in close proximity producers are just like you and see the value in to Kansas State University, has provided us the working with each other, the advantage of experplatform for a year-long internship program untise paired with technology and gaining leverage like any other. This has allowed us to ramp up our through the cooperative. By doing so, they gain relationship with students and faculty, putting us economy of scale and enhance their relevance in in an even better position to have access to talent the market, something that is so vital today. required in the future. Our purchase of Rice CounThere is no doubt scale can provide many ty Aerial allowed us to better manage the custom-

4

MKC ANNUAL REPORT 2015

er experience. We could include many more items that took place this past year we believe will make a difference in our ability to provide you with the customer service, products and services you require today.

All of this, in addition to our infrastructure renewal, requires significant investments. Some are readily visible and have immediate impact. Examples include the Canton Rail Terminal, new elevators, scales, seed sheds, fuel trucks, spray rigs, feed, hundreds of new fertilizer tanks, trucks and trailers and others that provide MKC with an immediate return on our investment. However, the result of some investments aren’t so immediately visible except in the expense portion of the operating statement. Investments such as employee development, community support and technology are made with the knowledge and expectation they will pay you consistent dividends over the coming years. It is certain, should we choose not to make them, the result over time is we will become less relevant to our members/owners.

Although MKC continues to create and offer ways to bring value to the farm, it will always be a moving target. Not only what value proposition needs to be delivered but also the size it will take to deliver it. Another solid year of financial performance and in fact, a series of good years, can be attributed to sound planning and rigorous execution on behalf of our entire team. These efforts

In order to remain successful though, our focus has to remain on building a company positioned to provide help to those involved in production agriculture not just today but far into the future.

allow us to continue our aggressive asset renewal strategy and return cash to our members.

As you can clearly see, all of us associated with MKC take considerable pride in the success of our efforts over the past 50 years. It is important we always honor the past and all that has been achieved. However, in order to remain successful our focus has to remain on building a company positioned to provide help to those involved in production agriculture not just today but far into the future. We sincerely thank you for all you have done to help your cooperative grow, prosper and serve our members better than ever before.

Dave Christiansen President and CEO

CJ Blew Chairman, Board of Directors

MKC ANNUAL REPORT 2015

5

CELEBRATING Hired our first retail field man to represent the co-op in the country.

Farmers Union Equity headquartered in Lindsborg merged with MKC and included Bavaria, Falun and Bridgeport.

The first annual meeting was held in the new Moundridge Rural High School in April 1966. A dinner was served to approximately 350 members and guests.

Purchased the county elevators from W-R Mill based in McPherson.

The purchased included elevators in Conway, Elyria, Hilton McPherson and Windom.

Started offering precision agricultural services.

1966

1992

1998

1965

MKC was formed in 1965 through a merger of the Buhler Cooperative Association in Buhler, the Moundridge Cooperative Elevator Association in Moundridge, and the Farmers Cooperative Association in Groveland.

1971

Lindsborg

1995

Purchased the first floater fertilizer applicator.

2000

MKC merged with Farmers Grain Cooperative adding locations in Haven and Castleton.

TMA was created to jointly merchandise grain for MKC and four other cooperatives.

Minutes from the joint board of directors meeting on September1964.

Bringing Producers and Industry Together

Haven

HISTORICAL

DATA

HISTORICAL NET EARNINGS

$15,000,000 $13,342,854

$12,000,000

$10,837,662

$9,000,000

$8,219,209

$3,191,862

$3,000,000

MKC ANNUAL REPORT 2015

$9,111,101

$8,871,405

$9,800,584

$6,000,000 $4,324,814

6

$14,073,776

0

2006

2007

$3,674,858

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

THE PAST. Merger agreements with Farmers Grain Cooperative were signed in January.

Locations included Peabody, Florence, Burns, Newton, Whitewater, Benton, Walton and Wichita.

MKC acquired 25% of Countryside Feed, LLC in Hillsboro. MKC’s ownership increased to 41.5% in 2005.

MKC entered into an agreement with Archer Daniels Midland Co., Cairo Co-op Equity Exchange and Farmers Co-op of Garden Plain to construct Hutchinson Fertilizer.

The $4.8 million project holds 27,000 ton of product when filled to capacity.

2002

2006

VRT seeding rates can be determined by utilizing EC data with yield monitor data, aerial imagery and/or personal knowledge of a field.

In the examples above, a VRT seeding rate for a flex ear corn hybrid of 15,000 seeds/acre versus 20,000 seeds/acre in the higher yielding zone was implemented. The result was lower input costs in the lower yielding zone and maximized inputs in the higher yielding zone.

15,000 drop ($300/bag corn ÷ 5.3 acres/bag) = $56.60/acre seed cost 20,000 drop ($300/bag corn ÷ 4.0 acres/bag) = $75.00/acre seed cost.

Cost savings = $18.40/acre

MKC added plant tissue sampling to their agronomy services.

2011

When comparing the Veris pH sampling to a 2.5 acre grid sampling, more individual pH observations are picked up by the Veris. The above examples shows 267 pH observations by the Veris compared to only 31 observations with the 2.5 acre grids on a 64-acre field. By picking up more observations (in this case, over 7 times the amount of observations), true variability in a field is better determined

91710

C Locations

2007

2004

2013

A merger with Farmers Cooperative Association became effective September 1, and included facilities in Abilene, Bennington, Longford, Solomon and Talmage.

Cooperative Finance Association’s (CFA) Producer Input Financing Program was added to MKC’s services.

MKC entered into an agreement with CHS to form a limited liability company to build and operate the 3 million bushel high-speed shuttle loading facility in Canton.

MKC formed a strategic alliance with Great Plains Precision Ag to expand its precision ag offerings

Mid Kansas Coop Association 307 W. Cole P.O. Box D Moundridge, KS 67107

620-345-6328 800-864-4428

w.mkcoop.com

Bennington

$400,000,000 $346,645,094

$350,000,000

$250,000,000

$222,184,457

$209,411,086

$200,000,000

$50,000,000 0

$227,504,568

HISTORICAL TOTAL ASSETS

$206,170,887

$155,832,307

$150,000,000 $100,000,000

DATA

$301,951,776

$300,000,000

HISTORICAL

$125,441,587

$115,285,794 $76,141,056

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

MKC ANNUAL REPORT 2015

7

Customer Notification System Rice County

The Domestic Production Activities Deduction was implemented allowing MKC to allocate to its members a tax deduction generated by “qualified production activities.”

Construction was completed in June on the Rice County and Benton grain facilities. Both facilities feature dual scales and high-speed unloading processes adding 3.9 million bushels of storage combined.

Employees continued to present educational programs to students throughout our trade territory.

Entitled “Ag in Our Everyday Lives”, the program teaches students about different types of grains, how they are grown and the many products developed from the grains.

The first of its kind, the MKC Customer Notification System brings a new level of communication to MKC customers using an electronic tablet in spray rigs. MKC spray rig operators use technology to notify customers via email or text message notifying them their field has been sprayed.

MARCH 1,

2014

The membership of Farmers Cooperative Association approved a merger with MKC on March 6. The merger went into effect on June 1, 2014, and added locations in Alta Vista, Manhattan, Onaga and Westmoreland.

Hosted the inaugural MKC Emerging Producer Program in Manhattan with nearly 100 producers and guests in attendance on February 28-March 1, 2014. The second annual program was held on March 6-7, 2015.

During the month of April, a total of 9,000 pounds of non-perishable food items were collected by MKC employees to help stock shelves of local food banks.

Emerging Producer Program

MKC has a long history of supporting 4-H leadership development programs, contributing more than $17,000 to 15 area 4-H programs this past year, with the help of the Land O’Lakes fund matching program.

4-H Leadership Development Food Drive

FOCUSING 8

MKC ANNUAL REPORT 2015

ON

Hosted the first MKC Legislative Staff Day on August 15. MKC welcomed five staff members from Kansas House and Senate offices Legislative Staff Day to MKC to discuss how the co-op can be a resource and to provide a better understanding of our profile, areas of business, community More than 200 new or gently used stewardship and much more. The jackets and coats were donated staff members also received a to the communities we serve tour of our Canton and Groveland after a month long campaign in facilities.

November.

Scholarship Program

Expanded the scholarship program to college students and offered awards valued at $1,000 to 10 high school seniors and eight college students.

Welcomed 235 new members into MKC in addition to the 3,193 members who joined through the successful merger with Farmers’ Cooperative Association.

FEBRUARY 28,

2015

A total of 20 MKC fuel sites were upgraded by April 2015 to improve security and customer experience.

Launched a comprehensive internship program developed to accelerate the onboarding process of new employees for MKC and its industry partners. In its first year, the program included three interns working for MKC part-time who were students at Kansas State University.

Construction of the 3 million bushel grain terminal at Canton was completed. The first load of grain was loaded into 109 rail cars on December 28, 2014, totaling 400,000 bushels of milo shipped to the Texas gulf.

Ground was broke on a 425,000 bushel steel bin in Manhattan in May. The facility also received upgrades including speakers and an outbound printer scale.

Construction of a 490,000 bushel bunker was completed in Alta Vista.

Canton Terminal

Manhattan

THE FUTURE.

MKC ANNUAL REPORT 2015

9

CONSOLIDATED

BALANCE SHEETS CURRENT ASSETS

2015

2014

$ 2,355,298

$ 1,029,642

2,950,489

1,190,796

10,125,809

7,075,330

(100,000)

(100,000)

669,515

4,294,986

Grain storage receivable

3,664,956

2,446,466

Commodity margin accounts

9,025,004

3,635,236

Other

9,015,300

5,471,728

Prepaid inventories

12,771,071

13,501,428

Inventories on hand

184,040,691

90,011,355

99,650

142,828

234,617,783

128,699,795

89,201

423,087

Equity in other cooperatives

27,949,211

23,052,165

Limited liability companies

17,483,787

11,792,641

1,359,899

1,091,442

46,882,098

36,359,335

Cash and cash equivalents Marketable securities, available for sale Accounts and notes receivable - trade Patrons and customers Allowance for doubtful accounts Grain shipments

Deferred income taxes

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS OTHER ASSETS Notes receivable, net of current portion

Other

TOTAL OTHER ASSETS PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT Cost

103,516,273

78,487,762

Accumulated depreciation

(38,371,060)

(37,376,005)

NET PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

65,145,213

41,111,757

$ 346,645,094

$ 206,170,887

TOTAL ASSETS

10

MKC ANNUAL REPORT 2015

February 28, 2015 and 2014 CURRENT LIABILITIES Accounts payable and accrued expenses Customer prepaid sales contracts

2015

2014

$ 39,262,476

$ 33,498,414

12,245,016

10,534,608

136,397,558

48,000,826

Patron demand certificates

3,858,032

1,811,771

Current maturities of long-term debt

4,461,756

5,887,449

Patronage dividends payable

2,371,493

2,566,204

919,013

970,308

199,515,344

103,269,580

34,089,941

17,759,002

4,828,025

3,935,329

365,427

249,297

Deferred income taxes

2,230,313

1,200,769

Other

2,211,952

1,841,651

43,725,658

24,986,048

5,214,250

4,487,169

Revolving bank notes

Income taxes payable

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES LONG-TERM LIABILITIES, excluding current maturities Non-revolving bank notes Patron certificates of indebtedness Capital lease obligations

TOTAL LONG-TERM LIABILITIES MEMBERS’ EQUITY Common stock Participating stock

2,201,934

934,215

32,626,430

27,497,170

8,877,894

-

Retained earnings

43,230,705

39,476,626

Non-controlling interests

11,538,269

5,749,976

(285,390)

(229,897)

103,404,092

77,915,259

$346,645,094

$ 206,170,887

Qualified patronage allocations Contributed capital

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

TOTAL MEMBERS’ EQUITY TOTAL LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS’ EQUITY

Financial Statement Presentation The statements presented within do not contain all necessary disclosures to be considered in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. A report containing the required disclosures is on file at the general office.

MKC ANNUAL REPORT 2015

11

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF

OPERATIONS SALES

2015

2014

$ 266,423,608

$ 381,168,847

136,630,651

119,950,474

403,054,259

501,119,321

Grain

250,652,375

368,347,116

Farm supply

119,604,965

108,765,417

370,257,340

477,112,533

32,796,919

24,006,788

11,472,795

10,700,684

Limited liability companies

1,582,863

328,931

Agronomy services

6,830,608

5,461,451

Interest income

314,370

248,129

Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment

345,254

513,883

1,978,027

1,106,083

TOTAL OTHER OPERATING INCOME

22,523,917

18,359,161

GROSS INCOME FROM LOCAL OPERATIONS

55,320,836

42,365,949

Personnel costs

20,596,569

16,207,802

Fixed expenses

9,612,949

7,152,631

17,018,297

13,435,642

47,227,815

36,796,075

8,093,021

5,569,874

Grain Farm supply

TOTAL SALES COST OF SALES

TOTAL COST OF SALES GROSS MARGINS OF SALES OTHER OPERATING INCOME Grain storage and handling services

Miscellaneous

OPERATING EXPENSES

Other operating expenses

TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES EARNINGS FROM LOCAL OPERATIONS

12

MKC ANNUAL REPORT 2015

For Years Ended February 28, 2015 and 2014 OTHER EARNINGS Patronage dividends Investment income Gain on business acquisitions

TOTAL OTHER EARNINGS NET EARNINGS BEFORE INCOME TAXES

2015

2014

5,520,044

6,221,171

901,775

2,174,980

2,298,353

-

8,720,172

8,396,151

16,813,193

13,966,025

PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES Current income taxes

(906,573)

(990,641)

(1,109,717)

(102,525)

TOTAL PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES

(2,016,290)

(1,093,166)

NET EARNINGS BEFORE NON-CONTROLLING INTERESTS

14,796,903

12,872,859

NON-CONTROLLING INTERESTS

(4,941,965)

(3,661,406)

9,854,938

9,211,453

54,493

(80,457)

Unrealized loss on fair value of interest rate swap

(108,847)

(19,895)

TOTAL OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

(54,354)

(100,352)

$ 9,800,584

$ 9,111,101

$ 5,928,736

$ 6,415,511

3,926,202

2,795,942

(54,354)

(100,352)

$ 9,800,584

$ 9,111,101

Deferred income taxes

NET EARNINGS ATTRIBUTABLE TO PARENT BEFORE OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) Unrealized holding gain (loss) of marketable securities

TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME DISTRIBUTION OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME Patronage dividends Retained earnings Other comprehensive loss

TOTAL

MKC ANNUAL REPORT 2015

13

PATRONAGE DISTRIBUTION AND

EQUITY REDEMPTIONS 2015 PATRONAGE ALLOCATION

RATE

AMOUNT

Grain

10.00 cents/bushel

$ 2,572,068

Agronomy - Seed - Crop Protection

4.29% or $21/ton on fertilizer

Petroleum - Lubricants

1.40% or 4.5 cents/gallon on fuel

298,677

Feed - Merchandise

2.25%

262,034

2,795,957

TOTAL PATRONAGE ALLOCATION

5,928,736

EQUITY REDEMPTIONS

2,885,510

TOTAL DISTRIBUTIONS

$ 8,814,246

PATRONAGE DISTRIBUTION AND EQUITY REDEMPTIONS - $8,814,246 Patronage Distribution

67.26% 32.74%

Equity Redemptions

CASH DISTRIBUTIONS TO MEMBERS - 10 YEAR HISTORY YEAR ENDED

EQUITY REDEMPTIONS

CASH PATRONAGE

TOTAL

2015

$ 2,885,510

$ 2,371,493

$ 5,257,003

2014

1,052,323

2,566,204

3,618,527

2013

650,512

3,417,300

4,067,812

2012

698,399

2,379,444

3,077,843

2011

746,339

2,296,816

3,043,155

2010

649,765

1,703,704

2,353,469

2009

714,116

2,673,170

3,387,286

2008

563,574

805,434

1,369,008

2007

835,730

675,936

1,511,666

2006

558,727

1,263,906

1,822,633

$ 9,354,995

$ 20,153,407

$ 29,508,402

TOTALS

14

MKC ANNUAL REPORT 2015

BUSINESS UNIT REVENUE AND

RURAL COMMUNITY SUPPORT GROSS REVENUE BY BUSINESS UNIT Grain Agronomy Grain $23,713,223

Agronomy $19,476,122

Energy Feed

Energy $2,792,723 Feed $1,064,588

2015 RURAL COMMUNITY SUPPORT - $32,862,108 MKC provides benefits to more than 75 communities in the form of personnel costs, local taxes and other expenses.

These payments have a significant impact on the communities and help support the businesses and services we utilize.

3%

63%

6%

Personnel Costs Other Expenses

28%

Income Taxes Property Taxes

MKC ANNUAL REPORT 2015

15

MKC | EST. 1965