At $246 billion, our nation's farm co-ops posted record sales in 2013. Those co-ops focusing on dairy were among the brightest stars, netting nearly 30 percent of the marketing total. The only categories to rank higher were those handling grain and oil seeds. Overall dairy was a major focus for nine of the nation's top 20 cooperatives, reported USDA in its latest issue of Rural Cooperatives.
Topping the co-op list was CHS, Inc., of St. Paul, Minn., which posted sales of $44.48 billion last year. It focuses mainly on energy, food, grain and supplies.
Land O'Lakes, based out of the same city, ranked second with $14.3 billion in sales. In addition to dairy, it also handles food and supplies.
Dairy Farmers of America notched third place. Based out of Kansas City, Mo., the dairy co-op netted $12.9 billion in sales.
Other dairy co-ops to make the top 20 included:
6. California Dairies, Artesia, Calif., $3.86 billion in sales
10. Northwest Dairy Association, Seattle, Wash., $2.24 billion in sales
12. Associated Milk Producers, Inc., New Ulm, Minn., $1.82 billion in sales
13. Foremost Farms USA, Baraboo, Wis., $1.76 billion in sales
15. Prairie Farms USA, Carlinville, Ill., $1.73 billion in sales
16. Dairylea Co-op (now merged into DFA), Syracuse, N.Y., $1.67 billion in sales
20. Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Co-op, Reston, Va., $1.37 billion in sales.
Outside of the top 20, there were an additional 13 dairy co-ops in the top 100.
