July 22, 2013

Cargill has completed its purchase of Northstar Grain's grain storage and crop inputs assets and associated properties in Decatur, and has decided to maintain the retail store and feed mill at the site.

Michael Borrie will be the new plant manager there.

"Mike has been around the grain business since 2003 and has held leadership positions in Cargill since 2008, managing several elevators across Indiana, Illinois, and Minnesota," said Dan Theilen, Cargill Farm Service Group operations leader.

Cargill announced that Greg Goettemoeller will become the Farm Marketer in the Southwest Michigan area. "Greg will work with farmers to deliver industry-leading risk management products and personalised on-farm grain marketing services," said Ben Breazeale, leader of the Greater Indiana Farm Service Group of Cargill AgHorizons US

"As in any acquisition, all former employees go through the standard hiring process and so far most been hired into Cargill jobs, including Carl Hinz, who is now the production supervisor," said Mark Klein, Cargill spokesman. 

The company would not say how much it paid for the business. Cargill will initially invest about US$3 million in improvements to the facility, upgrading safety equipment and electrical supply systems, as well as beginning an expansion of rail capacity and building an additional grain bin. The Decatur site also includes a small grind and mix mill for livestock feed.

Cargill AgHorizons US, which operates grain storage and crop inputs across the country, is not in the business of livestock feed.

"We initially intended to shut down the feed plant," Breazeale said. "As we talked to more people and gained an understanding of the mill's importance to the community, we decided that we will work to keep the retail store open and we are working with the Cargill's Animal Nutrition business to support the feed mill until a longer term plan is developed."