The future is cooperative in Nebraska agriculture

By Scout Nelson

October is recognized as Cooperative Month in Nebraska, with this year’s theme, “The Future is Cooperative,” emphasizing the significant role cooperatives play in shaping agriculture's future. Jeremy Wilhelm, CEO of Frontier Cooperative, shared insights on how the organization is preparing producers for what lies ahead.

Wilhelm believes that the agricultural landscape will continue to evolve while maintaining its core mission.

 “I think fundamentally ag is going to look similar in the future,” he stated. “Farmers are going to continue to feed the world, but they will do it more efficiently using new technology, using advancements in crop nutrients and crop protection. It will consolidate, like it has for the last 25 or 30 years, but the farmers are still going to be doing what they do today.”

At Frontier Cooperative's grain facility near Syracuse, the integration of drones is already enhancing productivity. Wilhelm highlighted the importance of embracing cutting-edge technology, saying, “We will continue to grow more with less. It’s important for the cooperative system to understand technology, bring it to our farmers, so they can adopt it at a quicker pace than they would have.”

The cooperative also prioritizes research on sustainable agricultural practices. “Frontier has two research plots that we continually do research on new fertilizer technologies and seed technologies,” Wilhelm noted. He emphasized that farmers have historically been environmental stewards, and advancements like precision agriculture are now available to enhance sustainability.

Looking forward, Wilhelm stressed the cooperative's ongoing commitment. “We are going to continue to serve the farmers like we have for the last 108 years, but it may be in new or different ways,” he explained. He emphasized the importance of cooperatives in providing essential products and services to farmers, which might not be accessible otherwise.

“It’s important for the cooperatives to be successful, so that we can continue to support the farmers, provide them services, purchase their grain, and provide everything they need on the farm,” Wilhelm concluded. He highlighted that the success of cooperatives is crucial for the vitality of the agricultural economy.

Photo Credit:nebraska-cooperative-council