Two Agricultural Cooperatives in Dakotas Won’t Merge

Officials who unsuccessfully pushed for the merger of two large century-old agricultural cooperatives in the Dakotas say they will not try again, despite the idea being only narrowly defeated by co-op members.

The South Dakota Wheat Growers and North Central Farmers Elevator had been planning to join and become CentraGro Cooperative.

Sixty one percent of Wheat Growers members voted to merge, but only 49 percent of North Central members voted yes. The proposed merger required simple majorities from both co-ops.

North Central General Manager Mike Nickolas says the merger proposal was "a one-shot deal," and Wheat Growers senior vice president Steve Briggs says "there is no appetite" for pursuing the merger, despite the close vote.

The Associated Press contributed to this story