Earnings, Investments, Global Strategy Position CHS

By CnAgri Print

Consistent strong financial performance, coupled with strategic domestic and global investments, have positioned CHS producer and co-op owners for long-term growth, leaders of the nation's largest cooperative reported at its annual meeting today.

"When it comes to the producers and cooperatives who own us, and the customers we serve around the world, we must not only invest in the future, but make sure we provide relevant options for doing business with us," said Carl Casale, CHS president and chief executive officer.

"In the last two years we've made three dozen major news announcements on investments and acquisitions on our owners' behalf that strengthen our presence at home and round the world in energy, grains, processing and food ingredients."

Casale and other leaders reported on 2012 results to more than 2,200 of the cooperative's owners and other guests at its annual meeting at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

In November, CHS reported record net income of $1.26 billion for fiscal 2012 (Sept. 1, 2011 -- Aug. 31, 2012) on revenues of $40.6 billion, setting a new mark for U.S. agriculture cooperatives. During fiscal 2013, CHS will return an estimated $600 million of its fiscal 2012 earnings to its owners in cash.

"When other forms of business achieve this level of profit, the benefits are shared by those who may not have a direct relationship with the company beyond its earnings," said Jerry Hasnedl, CHS Board chairman and a St. Hilaire, Minn., farmer. "But this business not only provides its owners with energy, crop inputs, grain marketing and more, it delivers a direct return that helps farmers, ranchers and local cooperatives invest in their own growth."

CHS Chief Financial Officer David Kastelic reported that in 2012 CHS "made key investments in current business operations and in new ventures that will drive long-term success while maintaining a healthy balance sheet that will allow the company to continue investing in the future."

Among those attending were more than 300 young farmers and ranchers who participated in the CHS New Leaders Forum which included a focus on trends in precision agriculture.