MKC is a full-service farm cooperative offering a complete line of supplies and services for both farm and urban customers in 15 counties throughout central Kansas. With a current membership of more than 5,800 members, MKC was founded in 1965 by the merger of three neighboring cooperatives in Moundridge, Buhler, and Groveland. Since its founding, it has grown in size and territory through mergers and acquisitions. More than 300 employees play an important role in the growth and success of MKC.
Thirty-eight grain locations offer combined elevator space of 34.8 million bushels. Wheat is the major crop grown, with receipts averaging more than 10.5 million bushels per year. The area is fortunate to have a strong aquifer underlying much of its trade territory allowing irrigation of corn and soybeans. In an average year, MKC will receive as much as 2.9 million bushels of grain sorghum, 6.3 million bushels of corn and 3.1 million bushels of soybeans. (Receipts are based on a five-year average.)
Much of the feed grains raised by producers in the area go towards supplying feeds to a diversified livestock industry in the area. This is an important part of the coop’s sales with wholesale and retail feed sales to customers producing swine, beef, dairy, and poultry. MKC and four other area cooperatives have formed a partnership with Countryside Feed which has an annual feed volume in excess of 150,000 tons.
MKC offers 24-hour fuel service at a number of locations throughout central Kansas. With a regional cooperative refinery located in the center of its trade territory, competitive fuel prices for customers, and a fleet of bulk fuel and propane delivery units, total fuel sales for the past year were over 24 million gallons of diesel fuel and gasoline.
Providing agronomy services to the member owners is another important aspect of business at MKC. Crop nutrient and protection needs, seed, seed cleaning, custom application and a complete line of rental equipment can service almost all of a producer’s needs. MKC’s continued re-investment in their facilities helps to provide environmentally safe and secure locations to handle nearly 100,000 tons of crop nutrients applied to the crop ground of MKC’s customers. Using GPS technology, MKC agronomy service centers apply crop nutrients and crop protection products to more than 850,000 acres of cropland. MKC has provides crop consulting and precision agriculture service for producers.
