OVERVIEW
At Glacial Plains Cooperative, our agronomy, grain, energy, feed and retail divisions help keep rural farming communities running strong, day-in and day-out in West Central Minnesota.
Whether you’re looking for customized agronomic expertise and support, experienced assistance in marketing your crop, a dependable provider of fuels and feeds, or a hot meal and a tank of gas at our local C-Store in Benson, we always aim to exceed your expectations.
We work hard to earn your business at Glacial Plains, and we work even harder to keep it. Contact us today to learn how we can contribute to your growth and success.
Our Mission
We are a financially strong ag service cooperative committed to providing the goods and services our patrons need.
Our Vision
To serve customers through thoughtful growth that meets their needs and maintains a legacy of dependable service in our communities. We promise to give personalized advice and service to help them succeed.
HISTORY
Glacial Plains Cooperative’s core business units of Grain and Agronomy date back to 1907 when local Kerkhoven farmers pooled $5,000 dollars together to purchase an existing PV elevator.
Co-op grain elevators were established in Kerkhoven in 1907, Murdock in 1909, and Benson in 1945. In 1982, the three locally owned cooperatives merged to become United Farmers Elevators (UFE) and immediately began construction of facilities capable of handling unit-train loading. The first unit-train was loaded in December of 1982. In 1997, UFE purchased the feed mill in De Graff and purchased Milan Farmers Elevator in 1999. In 2001, United Farmers Elevator and Swift Co-op Oil Company of Benson voted to merge their businesses, forming Glacial Plains Cooperative.
Swift Cooperative Oil Company was formed in 1929 as a cooperatively owned oil and gas business servicing the Benson area. In the early 1950s, the co-op got into the LP and fertilizer businesses. And in the early 1970s, the fertilizer plant was upgraded to hold 1,200 tons of dry fertilizer and blend 30 tons per hour.
Today Glacial Plains Cooperative is a major Grain and Agronomy company handling 20 to 25 million bushels of grain and 30,000 to 35,000 tons of fertilizer. The 24,000-ton fertilizer plant in Murdock, the 5,000-ton plant in Benson and the 5,000-ton plant in Clontarf have a combined blending capacity of 350 tons per hour. With total sales of $150 million to $250 million, we have become one of the major businesses in West Central Minnesota. We employ 70 to 80 full-time local personnel and another 15 to 20 part-time staff.
APP INFO
Get the latest from Glacial Plains right at your fingertips.
Download the Glacial Plains Cooperative app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play store to get started. The App Includes Up to date market information, cash grain bids, weather, news, and contact information.
Leadership & Board of Directors
Extension: 111
Extension: 102
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
The creation of Kerkhoven Farmers Elevator in 1907 started what is now Glacial Plains Cooperative.
In addition to supporting agriculture in West Central Minnesota over the past 100+ years, the cooperative has made significant contributions to the communities it serves. Every year we donate thousands of dollars to fire departments, EMTs, local schools and their many activities, FFA and 4-H, Boys and Girl Scouts and local food shelves.
There is great need in rural Minnesota. At Glacial Plains, we recognize our part in supporting those needs that directly affect our employees, our thousands of customers and their families.
CAREERS
Find Your Career at Glacial Plains Cooperative. We are seeking committed individuals to join our company and fill our current openings.
Browse our list of open positions below and fill out an application to get started:
3/15/25
DeGraff Location Equipment Operator / Warehouse Staff: Full time, benefits eligible openings for equipment operator in the DeGraff Feed Division. Duties include: operating automated bagging equipment, pallet wrapping, forklift, pallet jack, other duties assigned by management. Includes lifting up to 75 lbs. Contact Randy Simmonds, Feed Dept. Manager at 320-843-5364