Update on COVID-19 from Jay Debertin

Dear valued customers and owners:

As our essential businesses work to meet spring season demands amid the COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to focus on the health and safety of every person and community connected to CHS and the cooperative system.

We want you to know that CHS remains fully operational and committed to providing the essential products and services you need. Our supply chain is prepared and moving into action as spring fieldwork begins. Grain is moving and the spring shipping season has begun. We are grateful for those positive signs.

Thank you for your business. Please let us know how we can help you navigate through the days and weeks ahead.

Sincerely,

Jay D. Debertin
President and CEO

Current COVID-19 Changes

Overall Company Updates:

  • We are limiting access at all locations and have eliminated walk-in traffic. Our staff members are available via phone (calls and texts) and email to fully serve your needs during this time.
  • If you are visiting a CHS location, please remain in your vehicle and call the location phone number you are visiting.
  • We have restricted face-to-face meetings. Our sales staff will conduct business via phone, text or email. As a company that prides itself on the relationships we have built, this will be a difficult change. However, face-to-face meetings pose a greater risk for all parties. If you need to conduct critical business that requires an in-person meeting, please call for an appointment to confirm access to the facility and availability of staff. All visitors to our office will be required to complete a questionnaire before entering our facilities.
  • For seed deliveries:
    • Those seed orders requested to be delivered will have the receipt either emailed or texted to them. You will have 48 hours to confirm the order by replying to the emailed receipt or the order will be automatically approved
    • Once order is delivered to your property, the employee delivering the order will take a picture of the receipt and the load delivered
    • For any questions, call Tim Gehling at 507-923-3066 or Jordan Thiel at 507-951-8125

A list of department manager contacts can be found here:

Agronomy locations:

  • Byron- 507-528-2175
  • Claremont- 507-528-2175
  • Grand Meadow- 507-754-5125
  • Ostrander- 507-657-2234
  • St. Charles- 507-932-4830

Grain locations:

  • Claremont- 507-528-2175
  • Kasson- 507-634-7545
  • Grand Meadow- 507-754-5125
  • Ostrander- 507-657-2234
  • St. Charles- 507-932-4830
  • Wykoff: 507-754-5125

Feed store locations:

  • Chatfield- 507-867-4311
  • Kasson- 507-634-7545 and press 5

Energy:

  • Warehouse- 507-288-1020

Ag is an essential infrastructure. CHS locations continue to operate.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has issued a Stay-at-Home Order related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The order will be in effect from 11:59 p.m., Friday, March 27, through Friday, April 10, 2020. Consistent with guidance from the United States Department of Homeland Security, the order exempts certain essential infrastructure and services, including agriculture and food.

After a full review of the order, CHS has determined that its operations fit within this exemption and we will continue to operate to provide essential products and services so cooperatives, retailers and farmers can plant and grow crops, raise livestock and bring the food they produce to market.

Below is a note from CHS to our customers in Minnesota.

A message about COVID-19

With the impact of the global pandemic caused by COVID-19 evolving rapidly, we want to reassure you that CHS is taking steps to protect the health and safety of our employees, our owners and customers, and the communities we serve.

We are developing plans with the goal of continuing to provide the highest possible level of service to our customers and owners. Specific measures include:

  • Close coordination and collaboration to ensure safety and wellbeing of employees, customers and communities
  • Cancelation of annual meetings and other meetings of large groups and limiting visits to CHS facilities
  • Additional use of voice, video and other technology to serve you, our customers and coordinate farm visits
  • Activating plans to flex employees between locations or business units to better serve you
  • New process and rigor for interactions with vendors, suppliers, contractors or other third parties to promote health and safety
  • Fully utilizing our powerful and flexible supply chain and asset base should it become necessary to deliver to or from alternate locations

As the busy spring season unfolds, we will continue to adjust as circumstances change. We don’t take this challenge lightly, but we’re committed to working through it with effective planning, communication and execution. With our talented and committed team, best-in-class assets and our values of safety and cooperative spirit, we are confident CHS will continue to deliver products and services for customers and value for owners.

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