GARDEN PLAIN, Kan. (AP) Shrinking farm incomes are putting pressure on Kansas farm co-ops to merge as a way to help producers cut their costs.
The Wichita Eagle reports that Farmers Cooperative Elevator in Garden Plain will vote in about six weeks on whether to merge with co-ops in Anthony and Kiowa. Andale Farmers Co-Op voted in December to merge with Kanza Co-op in the Pratt County town of Iuka.
Kansas State University professor Brian Briggeman says the number of co-ops in Kansas has fallen from about 350 in 1950, to about 80 today.
Kanza Co-op CEO Bruce Krehbiel says the latest round of mergers won’t be the last because bigger co-ops can increase efficiencies and lower costs.
Krehbiel says there are limits to the economies of scale, but those haven’t been reached.
