CHS Inc.

First there was the swipe, then the tap. Now the latest evolution in payment technology is cutting the lines and eliminating the need to check out at a register altogether. A new convenience store for Enerbase Cooperative based in Minot, N.D., is investing in new technologies and embracing the changing preferences of their customer base.

We’re celebrating the people who work every day to make agriculture and the cooperative system strong today on National Ag Day, and every day. #AgDay25

Agronomist Jerome Benish says he loves helping farmers succeed by supporting them in every crop production step from planning through grain marketing. A member of the CHS High Plains agronomy team, Benish is based in Yuma, Colo. “My job’s not just helping my customers grow things, but helping them make the right decisions,” Benish says. “We help feed a lot of people.”

Alissa Geske leads research programs at the CHS Crop Science Research and Development Center in Randolph, Minn., which opened in 2024. The center includes a state-of-the-art greenhouse, which includes six climate-controlled bays to replicate a range of growing conditions. Geske and other CHS researchers test a wide variety of crop protection product concepts from seed treatments and micronutrients to adjuvants and biostimulants. Hear more about how products are evaluated and brought to market in the latest episode of the "It Takes a Co-op" podcast: https://bit.ly/3QMtiSo.

We're honored to be recognized as one of the 2025 World’s Most Ethical Companies. This recognition reflects our commitment to operating with integrity and conducting business in an ethical manner. CHS could not have achieved this incredible milestone without our employees’ efforts to bring our core value of integrity to life every day through their interactions with our owners, customers and communities. #WorldsMostEthicalCompanies Ethisphere

“Our approach to product development is taking feedback from our growers and agronomists to find solutions to problems,” says Steve Carlsen, director of proprietary products with CHS. For more than a decade, farmers have been asking for innovative solutions to quell the growing herbicide-resistant weed crisis. One solution is Soiltrate™, a soil-applied herbicide adjuvant. “When Soiltrate came into our lineup about eight years ago, it was ahead of its time,” says Carlsen. Back then, he says, growers were still able to control weeds with a combination of preemergence and postemergence herbicides. “We’ve seen that approach become less effective over time.” Hear from a Colorado farmer on his success against herbicide-resistant weeds.

Kristi Colbert has been a part of CHS for over ten years in roles across corporate development, corporate strategy and most recently, energy operations. In her strategy role, she could see all aspects of the business at a high level. Now in operations, she's diving deeper in one part of the business and getting closer to customers. One of the challenges about working at CHS is the variety and vastness of the business, she says. "However, this challenge makes the work exciting and full of opportunities for learning and growth." "By continuously learning and adapting, I turned the challenges into chances to expand my knowledge and skills, ultimately making my work more rewarding."

At CHS, the research and development process to find innovative solutions to agronomic problems starts and ends at the farm. Steve Carlsen, director of proprietary products with CHS, joins the "It Takes a Co-op" podcast sharing insights on how crop protection products make it to market. Carlsen says thousands of product concepts may be considered every year to earn a place in the CHS agronomy portfolio. The CHS Crop Science Research and Development Center in Randolph, Minn., allows researchers to more efficiently test products year-round for consistent performance and agronomic benefit without worrying if the weather will cooperate. Listen to the episode here: https://bit.ly/3QMtiSo.

Montana cooperative members Jordan and Anna Shearer reflect on their connection to agriculture saying, “We are truly fortunate to build our lives around agriculture.” Hear more about their story as ranchers and members of Rocky Mountain Supply Cooperative, based in southwestern Montana.

The future of the cooperative system and the agriculture industry depend on a strong talent pipeline. Students in middle and high school classrooms across the United States are learning about agriculture and preparing to be future leaders through FFA. This week is National FFA Week, a time to share the FFA's mission to develop the next generation of ag leaders and the impact the organization has on its members every day. CHS and the CHS Foundation support FFA in elevating and expanding its work with educators and students at local, state and national levels. Tanner Peterson, an ag teacher and FFA advisor, is a prime example of how FFA changes students’ lives for the better and inspires young people to pursue ag careers. “As a kid, I didn’t grow up on a farm, but I did get involved in FFA," he says. "It helped me become the best version of me that I could become, and it sparked my interest to become an ag teacher.”