History
History of the Co-op
From the outside, cooperatives may look like any other business. But inside, they are very different. A cooperative, also known as a co-op, is owned and controlled by the people closest to the business – those that do business with the company – and not distant shareholders.
In the farming community, cooperatives were first formed to help producers do what they couldn’t do on their own, or what they realized they could do better together. And that remains true today.
As we reflect on our history, we must also look to the future. With the agricultural industry changing, your cooperative is changing with it. It’s time to build for the future. It’s time to be part of something more. We look forward to serving you, and future generations, for many years to come.
Athletic Partnership | 2022
CVA partnered with the University of Nebraska and K-State University as the Official Co-op for each institution. These universities share the values that we, and our members, live by. CVA supports its member-owners in feeding the world through its products and services in agronomy, feed, energy, and grain. And this partnership was an excellent opportunity to showcase what we do in a positive way.
ACS Celebrates 25 Years | 2020
In 1995, CVA pulled the first grid-based soil samples and used that information to provide the right amount of nutrients in the right areas for our first few fields. We have been doing the same thing and much more ever since. Over the last 25 years, the ACS team has provided value to our growers through variable-rate fertilizer prescriptions, variable rate seeding recommendations, variable rate irrigation, soil moisture monitoring, planting and harvesting equipment, and data management services.
CVA & Farmway Merger | 2017
Farmway merged with Central Valley Ag on September 1, 2017. Farmway approved the merger with CVA by a super majority of 91%. The unified cooperative retained the Central Valley Ag name and headquarters in York, Nebraska with Carl Dickinson serving as President/CEO.
Ag Mark & Concordia Grain Terminal | 2015
CVA purchased a percentage of the Concordia Grain Terminal in Concordia, Kansas and joined AgMark Grain Marketing LLC on December 22, 2015. The Concordia Grain Terminal is located on Highway 81 and Highway 9 in Concordia, Kansas and provides long needed rail access to provide member-owners with speed, space, and access to rail.
CVA & UFC Merger 2014
Central Valley Ag & United Farmers Coop officially merged on September 1, 2014. Legacy CVA was formed when these three co-ops merged: Central Farmers, Agland Co-op, and Tri Valley Co-op in 2003.
United Farmers Co-op was originally formed when these three cooperatives merged: York Co-op, United Co-op, and Shelby Co-op in 2002.