FEEDING CATTLE IN THREE STATES
When Farmers Ranchers Co-op Association first built a feed mill in Ainsworth, NE, in 1978, it was designed to produce 150 tons of mostly beef feeds per day. As of 2015, it was producing 350 to 400 tons per day round the clock.
Today, the cooperative serves ranchers over a vast area including north central and northwest Nebraska, as well as large parts of South Dakota and Wyoming, which explains much of the growth.
“The 38 year-old mill was still in good shape, and it’s still in operation,” says Rocky Sheehan, director of feed operations and a 25-year veteran of the cooperative. But we had completely outgrown it.”
Even more challenging than producing enough feed to meet demand was trying to staff six days a week of night shifts.
In 2015, the board approved the construction of a second feed mill at the South
Main Street site, which began producing its signature 7/8 inch-x-3-inch range cubes at the end of October 2016.
“Now, both mills can produce 600 to 800 tpd of feed, and we’re loading 25 trucks per day with both bulk and bagged feeds,” says Sheehan.
General contractor on the 13-month, $18 million construction project was EBM Construction Inc., Norfolk, NE (402-371 2945). “EBM has been working with us since 1980,” says Operations Manager Bill Worden, who has been with Farmers Ranchers for 29 years. “They’ve always done good work, and we can always call on them and get whatever we need day or night.”