Landus Cooperative announces facility investment in Rake, introduces new Grain Marketing Advisor

The Landus Cooperative Board recently approved a $6 million, phase one investment for the cooperative’s Rake, grain facility and announced the site is slated to be re-open for grain receipts by harvest 2019.  The company also introduced Ashley Smeby as its new area Grain Marketing Advisor.
 The $6 million capital commitment includes temporary receiving structures, a permanent 10,000 bushel per hour dryer—twice as fast as the site’s previous dryer—and rail loading conveyors and legs.  A 900,000 bushel bunker will be added for receiving dry corn.
“This is ‘Phase One’ of a multi-year project to bring receiving capacity and speed back to Winnebago County and return Rake to its status as a high-volume shuttle loader on the Union Pacific,” explained Scott Anderson, regional general manager for Landus Cooperative. “We appreciate the partnership of area farmers and look forward to opening our receiving lines for their crops this fall.”
“Over the next several years, we have a vision for adding more permanent grain storage and other assets to serve our grain and agronomy business,” added Anderson. “Like everyone in the agricultural economy right now, we need to manage our capital investments across all of our locations. We are committed to bringing rail-loading and export values to our Rake area farmers for the long-run.”
Along with the new facility announcement, the cooperative introduced a new Grain Marketing Advisor to the Rake, Thompson and Britt locations.  Hancock County, Iowa-native, Ashley Smeby has joined the grain team to offer a portfolio of grain marketing alternatives and help area farmers manage their profit opportunity in their grain sales.
“We are excited to add Ashley to our team,” explained Steve Cook, location manager for the Rake, Thompson and Britt locations. “She’s easy to talk with and with her farm and ag background, is a great asset for our growers. She’ll be working with our Field Sales Agronomists, Phil Thony and Brandon Goette as well as Gentry Sorenson, our Field Sales Agronomists for Britt and Thompson.
Smeby may be contacted at 515-291-2094.