Greater Indiana is excited to welcome Keystone Cooperative as a 2024 member. It has been officially announced that both Ceres Solutions and Co-Alliance, two influential agricultural cooperatives, announced the overwhelming approval of their merger by both boards and memberships, signaling a transformative shift in the cooperative landscape. Scheduled to take effect on March 1, 2024, the unified entity will bear the name Keystone Cooperative, Inc. This strategic consolidation aims to forge a farmer-owned cooperative dedicated to delivering an unparalleled customer experience, fortified by the necessary resources to support farmers as they navigate the evolving landscape of agriculture. Keystone Cooperative is poised to extend its services to customers across Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois, with four key divisions encompassing Energy, Agronomy, Grain, and Swine & Animal Nutrition. Anticipating an annual revenue of $3 billion and employing over 1,700 team members, the cooperative is well-positioned to thrive in the agricultural sector.
The merger represents a commitment to maximizing efficiencies, embracing technology, and enhancing the overall customer experience, ensuring preparedness for future stakeholders. This strategic move follows an extensive due diligence process and the successful joint venture, Endeavor Ag & Energy, serving Central Michigan in agronomy, propane, and feed. The Chairs of both Ceres and Co-Alliance Boards underscored the merger’s value, emphasizing collaboration and shared commitment to delivering exceptional value. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Keystone Cooperative embarks on this merger with optimism, centering its vision on the customer, employees, and local communities.