Contributed Photo The 2017 board of directors for United Cooperative includes, from left, front row, Rod Leiterman, Denmark; Howard Bohl, Beaver Dam, chairman; Gary Nolden, Prairie du Sac, vice chairman; Robin Craker, Reedsburg, secretary; back row, Greg Tauchen, Bonduel; Anthony Schadt, Watertown; Brad Krueger, Shawano; Peter Mlsna, Hillsboro; Duane Hinchley, Cambridge; and David Cramer, Beaver Dam; treasurer. Not pictured is Larry Plamann, Greenville.
United Cooperative announced April 10 at its annual meeting in Beaver Dam that it is returning $28.7 million in total patronage to its members for 2016.
Forty percent of the patronage, or $11.5 million, will be distributed in cash to United Cooperative’s patron member owners in April. The remainder, or $17.2 million, will be retained in equity credits.
David Cramer, president and CEO, reported revenues for 2016 were $633 million. United Cooperative’s core cooperative businesses of feed, grain, agronomy and energy generated $25 million in profits, down $2 million from 2015. The investment United Cooperative made in ethanol contributed $14 million to its net income in 2016, up from the $11 million in 2015.
Patronage from regional cooperatives was down $1 million from 2016, at $6 million.
All combined, United Cooperative had a total net income before income taxes in 2016 of $45.5 million, virtually unchanged from 2015.
“United Cooperative invested millions in cooperative building projects in 2016 to benefit member access and profitability,” Cramer said.
Cramer noted that construction was completed last year on two feed manufacturing facilities at Shawano and Wilton; on a complete grain receiving and drying system at Westfield; a 1.2-million-bushel storage bin at Rock Springs; a 4,650-ton dry fertilizer plant and a new liquid facility at Auroraville; a 24-hour fuel pumping station at Hillsboro; and a maintenance shop at Hillsboro.
Employees recognized for their years of outstanding service with United Cooperative included Glen Hudson, Shawano feed, 35 years; Kevin Gunderson, Pulaski feed, 30 years; Michael Pericak, Shawano office, 15 years; Mark Yanke, United Cooperative, Shawano feed, 15 years; Eric Onan, Shawano feed, 10 years.
Formed in 1936, United Cooperative is a full-service cooperative offering feed, grain, agronomy, and energy products and services to Wisconsin farmers and consumers.
