Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has issued a Stay-at-Home Order related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The order will be in effect from 11:59 p.m., Friday, March 27, through Friday, April 10, 2020. Consistent with guidance from the United States Department of Homeland Security, the order exempts certain essential infrastructure and services, including agriculture and food.
After a full review of the order, CHS has determined that its operations fit within this exemption and we will continue to operate to provide essential products and services so cooperatives, retailers and farmers can plant and grow crops, raise livestock and bring the food they produce to market.
Below is a note from CHS to our customers in Minnesota.
As you are aware, the impact of the global pandemic caused by COVID-19 continues to rapidly evolve. Safety is a core value for CHS Northland Grain and includes a focus on the health and wellbeing of our employees, families, customers and owners, and the communities in which we live and work.
We understand that spring is here, and I want to emphasize; we’re still operating to serve our growers and customers. We are simply adjusting some protocols. CHS Northland Grain has implemented the following changes effective Monday, March 23, until further notice:
We are limiting access at all locations. We respectfully ask you to contact us through phone or email whenever possible. Some of our locations have enacted split shift schedules; staff that can work remotely have been asked to do so and will be available via phone or e-mail.
If you need a grain check, please contact us and we will mail it promptly or set up a pickup location outside of the office.
All visitors to our office will be required to complete a questionnaire before entering our facilities. We are also asking all staff and visitors to adhere to the 6-foot distance recommended by the CDC to reduce virus spread.
We have restricted face-to-face meetings. Our sales staff will conduct business via phone, text or email. As a company that prides itself on the relationships we have built, this will be a difficult change. However, face-to-face meetings pose a greater risk for everyone involved. If you need to conduct critical business that requires an in-person meeting, please call for an appointment to confirm access to the facility and availability of staff.
We ask you to call ahead for product pickup whenever possible, our team will ensure that everything is ready to load upon your arrival.
For those customers or vendors delivering grain or picking up products, we ask that you limit your time in the office to essential business. At some locations, we are asking drivers to remain in their cab. Please check our location policies or watch for information and direction upon arrival.
We will adjust our practices as necessary in the coming days, weeks or months. Rest assured, it is our commitment that we will continue to provide excellent service and support throughout this unprecedented time, even if we must do it differently. We value your business, your trust in CHS Northland Grain and appreciate your understanding during this time. We look forward to resuming normal interactions as soon as it is deemed safe to do so.
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.
You may have heard that CHS Insurance Services LLC, a subsidiary of CHS Inc., was sold. This does not affect CHS Northwest Insurance Services or our clients. While we are part of CHS, our agency is owned by CHS Northland Grain and not affiliated with this former subsidiary.
As we have since 1990, we remain committed to deliver insurance protection for farmers and ranchers, offering crop, hail, home, auto and life insurance through multiple offices in St. Hilaire and Fertile. You can see the variety of carriers we work with here.
Please give us a call today. We’re here to answer your farm insurance questions.
Join us for our Annual Meeting on Dec. 12, 2023 at 11 a.m. in Erskine, MN RSVP today
