C Magazine - Spring 2018

Moving Forward - Together

2018-04-26 06:47:39

In the last year, we’ve experienced change on a national, local and cooperative level unlike any we’ve seen before.

Trade policy changes have affected our farmer-owners and our business, and they show no sign of slowing. Commodity prices continue to present challenges as we help farmer-owners navigate the complexities of pricing and market fluctuations. And the global environment for the businesses serving agriculture remains under stress.

In these situations, we have two options: We can sit back and let the challenges determine our future or we can view them as hidden opportunities. At CHS, we see these cycles as a time to strengthen our organization and prepare for growth.

Specifically, we’re committed to our priorities of better efficiency, stronger relationships and a more focused business portfolio. We have more work to do, but we are seeing improvement that will make us a stronger company.

One of the articles in this issue highlights a key differentiator for CHS: our global grain marketing division, which plays a critical role in bringing our farmer-owners’ grain to markets around the world. It’s just one way we’re helping farmers navigate the cyclical ups and downs of the domestic grain market.

The CHS story started nearly nine decades ago when a few farmers got together to create one of the first farmer-owned cooperatives in the U.S. Their goal: help farmers be more successful.

That goal has not changed, but circumstances — globally, nationally and in our own communities — have changed. We all think about what we need to succeed. Our challenge is how to think about that differently, and about how we can strengthen relationships within and outside our networks to leverage the collective strength of the cooperative system.

That is where we need your help. We hope you will join us at an upcoming CHS Owner Forum to share your thoughts and ideas. You can find more information at chsinc.com. If you are unable to attend, you can always reach us at feedback@chsinc.com.

I remain convinced that CHS is well positioned to connect U.S. farmers to global customers and to truly make a difference while helping farmers and cooperatives grow.

Have a question or feedback for the CHS management team? Get in touch with us at feedback@chsinc.com.

Published by CHS Inc. View All Articles.

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