Glenn Youngkin | Governor.Virginia.gov

RICHMOND, VA –  Governor Glenn Youngkin right now introduced that the historic Rockingham Cooperative will make investments almost $17 million to improve and increase the grain dealing with and feed manufacturing operations at its Dayton mill in Rockingham County. Based in 1921 To save tons of Shenandoah Valley farmers money on feed and fertilizer, the Rockingham Cooperative now boasts 5,156 member farms throughout twenty-5 states, having fun with annual revenues of almost $130 million. By way of this enlargement, the Cooperative will add jobs and has dedicated To buying for Greater than $11.6 million, or 30,000 tons, of Virginia-grown soybeans, corn and barley over The subsequent three years.

“As Virginia’s largest private enterprise, our agricultural sector attracts its power from The differ of our manufacturing and the entrepreneurial spirit like People who make up this farmer-member cooperative,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “I thank Rockingham Cooperative for its dedication to the Commonwealth And want All of them Definitely one of the biggest all through their subsequent 100 years of service to the farmers of Virginia.” 

“Rockingham Cooperative Is a useful companion to Virginia’s agricultural enterprise, whose enlargement Might have far-reaching advantages to farms Inside the Commonwealth and past,” said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matthew Lohr. “It’s through companionships like this one shaped 100 years in the past, that proceed to make the Virginia agricultural group second to none. I am grateful to Rockingham County for its companionship with the Commonwealth to assist this important enterprise.” 

“Rockingham Cooperative has prolonged provided a agency basis for the success of our members for the previous 100 years,” said Rockingham Cooperative Feed Division Supervisor Keith Turner. “This AFID grant, mixed with The primary make investmentsment from Rockingham Cooperative, serves as A press launch that the Commonwealth of Virginia and Rockingham Cooperative are dedicated to preserving and advancing the agricultural enterprise in Virginia. By way of this enlargement, Rockingham Cooperative is poised to proceed its bedrock assist of the agricultural enterprise Inside the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, and past for The subsequent 100 years.” 

“Extra than a century in the past, Rockingham Cooperative grew out of An space, communal want of the farming group. The Cooperative and notably its feed division, Rockingham Mill, proceeds to assist native farms and serves custom-madeers far past the Valley,” said Rockingham County Board of Supervisors Chair Sallie Wolfe-Garrison. “The enlargement of Rockingham Mill is a testament to the Cooperative’s success in offering service right now whereas planning for and anticipating the wants of tomorrow. Rockingham County is so very fortunate to have enterprises Similar to Rockingham Cooperative persevering with the legacy of offering extreme quality agricultural merchandise all through the area, the Commonwealth and past.” 

“Rockingham Cooperative has served our area’s farms for over a century and we actually worth its dedication to assisting native growers and producers,” said Delegate Tony Wilt. “Their enlargement immediately impacts The center of our financial system, agriculture, and addresses the elevated market demand For Prime of the differ animal feed.”  

“As an integral An factor of the Shenandoah Valley’s rich agricultural historic previous, this enlargement extremelights Rockingham Cooperative’s passionate dedication to serving its members and Rockingham County’s proceedd dedication to assisting farms and agri-companies,” said Senator Mark Obenshain. “This strategic infrastructure make investmentsment will place the Cooperative to more effectively and effectively serve its member farms For A lot of more years To return.”  

Headquartered in Rockingham County, the Cooperative is a primarystay Contained in the Commonwealth’s main agricultural area, the Shenandoah Valley, which accounts for Greater than A third of all agricultural gross sales in Virginia. Driving the Cooperative’s choice to increase have been surging out-of-state demand For his or her custom-made feed blends, As properly as to A persevering with Think about primarytaining feed prices low for its members through ongoing enhancements in operational efficiencies. These efficiencies Shall be further bolstered by the Cooperative’s set up of an on-website photo voltaic power system In a place to suppling low-value, inexperienced power for As a lot as 90 % of the mill’s wants. This enterprise Shall revenue each Virginia grain producers, As properly as to the hundreds of farmers throughout Virginia and past who rely Rockingham Cooperative’s extreme quality feed merchandise and aggressive prices. 

The Virginia Division of Agriculture and Shopper Providers (VDACS) labored with Rockingham County and Rockingham Cooperative to safe this enterprise for the Commonwealth. Governor Youngkin accredited a $100,000 grant from the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Enchancment (AFID) Fund, which Rockingham County will match with native funds.