Corporate Office HQ

Agriculture

Gavilon Group Corporate Office

The Gavilon Group has its roots in the 1874 founding of the F.H. Peavy & Company in Sioux City, Iowa. The company built its first grain facility the same year.

The company changed its name to Peavey Company in 1962 and went public in 1973.

In 1982 the Peavey Company was acquired by ConAgra Foods, Inc., making the company the country’s largest publicly held grain merchandiser.

In 2008 a group of investors formed Gavilon and acquired the ConAgra Trade Company, successor to ConAgra Foods, making it a private company.

In 2010 Gavilon acquired DeBruce Companies expanding its agricultural operations to Canada and Mexico.

Gavilon Group is a commodity management firm that connects producers and consumers of feed, food, and fuel through a global supply chain network.

Today Gavilon Group is #19 on the Forbes’ list of America’s Largest Private Companies. The company has 1,900 employees and had $12.60 billion in revenue in 2011.

Gavilon Group

The Gavilon Group has its roots in the 1874 founding of the F.H. Peavy & Company in Sioux City, Iowa. The company built its first grain facility the same year.

The company changed its name to Peavey Company in 1962 and went public in 1973.

In 1982 the Peavey Company was acquired by ConAgra Foods, Inc., making the company the country’s largest publicly held grain merchandiser.

History

In 2008 a group of investors formed Gavilon and acquired the ConAgra Trade Company, successor to ConAgra Foods, making it a private company.

In 2010 Gavilon acquired DeBruce Companies expanding its agricultural operations to Canada and Mexico.

Gavilon Group is a commodity management firm that connects producers and consumers of feed, food, and fuel through a global supply chain network.

Today Gavilon Group is #19 on the Forbes’ list of America’s Largest Private Companies. The company has 1,900 employees and had $12.60 billion in revenue in 2011.

Deere & Company Corporate Office

Deere & Company began when John Deere, a blacksmith, opened a 1,378 square feet shop in Grand Detour, Illinois in 1837 which allowed him to be the general repairman for the village. He also manufactured small tools, such as shovels and pitchforks.

Deere pioneered the steel plow in 1837. This plow was revolutionary to farmers as the rich mid western soil stuck to the wooden plows used previously, while it did not stick to the smooth steel. At first, Deere manufactured each plow as it was ordered. Later on he changed to making stock so that customers could see what they were buying beforehand.

The company expanded, and in 1857 they were selling more than 1,000 implements per month.

By the time of Deere’s death in 1886, the company was manufacturing a variety of farm equipment products.

In the 1900s Deere began to manufacture gasoline-powered tractors. Deere expands this line and in 1963 was world’s largest producer and seller of farm and industrial tractors and equipment. Total sales reached $1 billion for the first time in 1966.

Deere then expanded globally, and had $3 billion in overseas sales in 1997.

Today Deere & Company, known as John Deere, is one of the largest manufacturers of agricultural machinery in the world. It is part of the S&P 500 and was 97 on the Fortune 500 list in 2012. It produces tractors, combine harvesters, cotton harvesters, balers, planters/seeders, sprayers, UTVs, construction equipment, forestry equipment, as well as parts used in diesel engines, lawn mowers, snowthrowers, and lawn tractors. Deere also offers financial services to support the core businesses. Their revenue for 2010 was $26 billion.

Deere & Company

Deere & Company began when John Deere, a blacksmith, opened a 1,378 square feet shop in Grand Detour, Illinois in 1837 which allowed him to be the general repairman for the village. He also manufactured small tools, such as shovels and pitchforks.

Deere pioneered the steel plow in 1837. This plow was revolutionary to farmers as the rich mid western soil stuck to the wooden plows used previously, while it did not stick to the smooth steel. At first, Deere manufactured each plow as it was ordered. Later on he changed to making stock so that customers could see what they were buying beforehand.

The company expanded, and in 1857 they were selling more than 1,000 implements per month.

History

By the time of Deere’s death in 1886, the company was manufacturing a variety of farm equipment products.

In the 1900s Deere began to manufacture gasoline-powered tractors. Deere expands this line and in 1963 was world’s largest producer and seller of farm and industrial tractors and equipment. Total sales reached $1 billion for the first time in 1966.

Deere then expanded globally, and had $3 billion in overseas sales in 1997.

Today Deere & Company, known as John Deere, is one of the largest manufacturers of agricultural machinery in the world. It is part of the S&P 500 and was 97 on the Fortune 500 list in 2012. It produces tractors, combine harvesters, cotton harvesters, balers, planters/seeders, sprayers, UTVs, construction equipment, forestry equipment, as well as parts used in diesel engines, lawn mowers, snowthrowers, and lawn tractors. Deere also offers financial services to support the core businesses. Their revenue for 2010 was $26 billion.

CHS Corporate Office

CHS, Inc. has its roots in the 1929 organization of the regional cooperative, North Pacific Grain Growers, Inc (NPGG). The Farmers Union Grain Terminal Association (GTA) was founded in 1938. These two cooperatives eventually merged in 1983 to form the Harvest States Cooperatives.

In 1931 Farmers Union Central Exchange was founded in Minnesota. This cooperative later became Cenex, which became a seed, plant, and food business. They later expanded into transportation, convenience stores, and gas stations.

In 1998 Cenex and Harvard States merged to form the Cenex Harvest States Cooperatives, an integrated agricultural food systems company that linked producers to consumers.

In 2000 CHS Cooperatives was adopted as the new name of the company, and then CHS, Inc. in 2003. Cenex is the company’s energy brand.

Today CHS, Inc. is a Fortune 100 business owned by U.S. agricultural cooperatives, farmers, ranchers, and thousands of preferred stockholders. They own and operate food processing and wholesale, farm supply, Cenex brand fuel, financial services, and retail businesses. They are also co-owner of Ventura Foods, a processor of vegetable oil. Their revenue for 2012 was $40.6 billion.

 

CHS, Inc.

CHS, Inc. has its roots in the 1929 organization of the regional cooperative, North Pacific Grain Growers, Inc (NPGG). The Farmers Union Grain Terminal Association (GTA) was founded in 1938. These two cooperatives eventually merged in 1983 to form the Harvest States Cooperatives.

In 1931 Farmers Union Central Exchange was founded in Minnesota. This cooperative later became Cenex, which became a seed, plant, and food business. They later expanded into transportation, convenience stores, and gas stations.

In 1998 Cenex and Harvard States merged to form the Cenex Harvest States Cooperatives, an integrated agricultural food systems company that linked producers to consumers.

History

In 2000 CHS Cooperatives was adopted as the new name of the company, and then CHS, Inc. in 2003. Cenex is the company’s energy brand.

Today CHS, Inc. is a Fortune 100 business owned by U.S. agricultural cooperatives, farmers, ranchers, and thousands of preferred stockholders. They own and operate food processing and wholesale, farm supply, Cenex brand fuel, financial services, and retail businesses. They are also co-owner of Ventura Foods, a processor of vegetable oil. Their revenue for 2012 was $40.6 billion.

 

Bunge Limited Corporate Office

Bunge Limited was founded in 1818 as Bunge y Born in Amsterdam. In 1884 they expanded to Argentina, in 1905 to Brazil, and later to the U.S.

The company built its first major grain handling facility in Minnesota in 1935, thus becoming an originator of grain in North America. In 1946 the company acquired grain elevators in the Midwest and in 1961 opened an export grain-handling elevator in Louisiana that connected its domestic grain operations to world markets.

During the 1970s and 1980s Bunge grew its product and operational diversity by acquiring and building grain origination, soy processing, and food products businesses throughout North and South America.

Bunge y Born officially changed its name in 1994 to Bunge International when the company incorporated in the Bahamas.

Up until 2001 Bunge was a privately held company that was owned by 180 shareholders, with the Bunge family having a controlling interest.

In 2001 when Bunge went public, the company had three main businesses: agribusiness, fertilizer, and food products.

Today Bunge Limited has worldwide distribution, 32,000 employees at 400 facilities in 40 countries, and had revenue of $58.74 billion in 2011.

Bunge Limited

Bunge Limited was founded in 1818 as Bunge y Born in Amsterdam. In 1884 they expanded to Argentina, in 1905 to Brazil, and later to the U.S.

The company built its first major grain handling facility in Minnesota in 1935, thus becoming an originator of grain in North America. In 1946 the company acquired grain elevators in the Midwest and in 1961 opened an export grain-handling elevator in Louisiana that connected its domestic grain operations to world markets.

During the 1970s and 1980s Bunge grew its product and operational diversity by acquiring and building grain origination, soy processing, and food products businesses throughout North and South America.

History

Bunge y Born officially changed its name in 1994 to Bunge International when the company incorporated in the Bahamas.

Up until 2001 Bunge was a privately held company that was owned by 180 shareholders, with the Bunge family having a controlling interest.

In 2001 when Bunge went public, the company had three main businesses: agribusiness, fertilizer, and food products.

Today Bunge Limited has worldwide distribution, 32,000 employees at 400 facilities in 40 countries, and had revenue of $58.74 billion in 2011.

Archer Daniels Midland Corporate Office

The Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) was founded in 1902 by George A. Archer and John W. Daniels as a linseed crushing business. From then until 1970, they added one profit source per decade to their business, including processing, milling, and specialty food ingredients.

In 1970 Dwayne Andreas became CEO and began the process of transforming the company into an industrial powerhouse. He was CEO until 1997, when he was succeeded by his nephew, G. Allen Andreas.

Today ADM’s products include additives for fuel, food, and ingredients. The company has 270 plants and 420 crop procurement facilities worldwide, where oilseeds and grains are processed into animal feed, food, beverage, nutraceutical, and industrial products.

ADM has heavily invested in ethanol, bioenergy, and biofuels.

ADM is part of the S&P 500, was  named the World’s Most Admired Food Company by Fortune in 2009, 2010, and 2011, has 30,000 employees, and had revenue of $89 billion in 2012.

 

Archer Daniels Midland

The Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) was founded in 1902 by George A. Archer and John W. Daniels as a linseed crushing business. From then until 1970, they added one profit source per decade to their business, including processing, milling, and specialty food ingredients.

In 1970 Dwayne Andreas became CEO and began the process of transforming the company into an industrial powerhouse. He was CEO until 1997, when he was succeeded by his nephew, G. Allen Andreas.

Today ADM’s products include additives for fuel, food, and ingredients. The company has 270 plants and 420 crop procurement facilities worldwide, where oilseeds and grains are processed into animal feed, food, beverage, nutraceutical, and industrial products.

History

ADM has heavily invested in ethanol, bioenergy, and biofuels.

ADM is part of the S&P 500, was  named the World’s Most Admired Food Company by Fortune in 2009, 2010, and 2011, has 30,000 employees, and had revenue of $89 billion in 2012.