Grain powers American agriculture. During Stand-Up for Grain Safety Week, March 25 through 29, we want to remind everyone working on farms and in grain-handling facilities to respect and understand the risks associated with working with grain.
“It’s important to continue to work with the industry, our
employees and our farmer-owners on the hazards in the grain industry, while
stressing safe practices and controls to ensure their safety,” says Matt
Surdick, manager, Country Operations Environment, Health and Safety, CHS.
People in rural communities live surrounded by growing food,
but they experience hunger too. That’s why CHS is once again teaming up with
local farmers to fight hunger in rural America. The CHS Harvest for Hunger food,
grain and fund drive begins March 1 and continues through March 20 at your
nearest CHS location.
“We might never know that the neighbor across the road or
down the drive struggles to put food on the table, but through our efforts this
month, we can make sure those local food shelves can anonymously help those who
need it most,” says Rick Dusek, executive vice president, CHS Country
Operations. “For nine years now, our CHS employees and farmer-owners have
stepped up during this annual campaign to help local and regional food shelves
feed those in need.”
Since 2011, CHS has raised more than $5.6 million and 3.6
million pounds of food through its Country Operations business units. CHS
locations across the United States have organized ways to get farmer, ranchers,
employees and community members involved in fun and interactive ways to raise
food and funds to fight hunger.
Financial donations are encouraged as they give food banks
additional buying power to provide nutritious food at deeply discounted rates;
$1 equals 6 pounds of food for area food banks. But food and grain donations
are also accepted. Every donation counts.
“All the food, money and grain raised by CHS Harvest for
Hunger goes directly back to local and regional food banks to help fill their
shelves,” Dusek says. “This way, we can help those in need by ensuring those
organizations dedicated to fighting rural hunger have the resources they need
to make a real difference in people’s lives.”
Stop by or contact your nearest CHS location to learn how you
can support CHS Harvest for Hunger.
When most people think of agriculture, they wonder how we are going to feed the growing population of 9.6 billion by 2050. And while that’s an important question to consider, I find myself thinking more often about the individuals needed to fill the talent pipeline to feed that growing population.
With nearly 4 in 10 agriculture jobs going unfilled each
year and the average-age of farmers ever increasing, it’s going to take a
pragmatic, creative approach to encourage young people to pursue careers in
agriculture.
CHS has completed the acquisition of West Central Distribution, LLC, a full-service wholesale distributor of agronomy products headquartered in Willmar, Minnesota.
“Completing the acquisition of West Central demonstrates
our commitment to provide more of the products, services and technologies
cooperatives, retailers and our farmer-owners need to compete,” said Gary
Halvorson, senior vice president, CHS Agronomy. “Ownership of West Central
expands our agronomy platform, positions CHS as a leading supply partner to
cooperatives and retailers serving growers throughout the United States and
adds value for CHS owners.”
