The 2019 recipient of Precision Farming Dealer’s seventh annual Most Valuable Dealership is Crystal Valley Cooperative, based in Lake Crystal, Minn.

In total, 29 U.S. and Canadian dealerships including large and small farm equipment dealership groups with precision departments, independent precision operations and co-ops were nominated by their farm customers, precision equipment suppliers and their own employees.

We asked an independent panel of judges to evaluate precision farming sales growth and diversity, along with how each nominee is generating revenue from hardware, software and precision service.

The judges also analyzed less quantifiable elements that define the best precision farming dealership, such as employee training, performance standards, innovation, sustainability and community involvement.

Most Valuable Dealership Alumni

2013 Brokaw Supply Company Fort Dodge, Iowa

2014 South Dakota Wheat Growers Aberdeen, S.D. 

2015 Ag Info Tech Mount Vernon, Ohio

2016 Hoober Inc. Intercourse, Pa.

2017 Southern States Cooperative Richmond, Va.

2018 Central Valley Ag York, Neb. 

Previous recipients of the honor showcased the diversity of dealerships carving out a successful niche in precision farming, and 2019 once again highlighted another uniquely innovative retailer in Crystal Valley, marking the fourth time a farm cooperative has captured the honor.

Few dealerships have been immune to the economic challenges posed by the last few years. But the 2,200-member cooperative founded in 1927, has managed to maintain — and in some cases — grow revenue, thanks to increasing diversity of products and service flexibility. 

Much has been made about dealers returning to the agronomic roots of precision farming and creatively incorporating data-driven services into foundational hardware support. Crystal Valley has averaged $75 million in agronomy-generated revenue from 2015-18, and been able to navigate market instability by adhering to the philosophy that the co-op has an obligation to deliver solutions with bottom-line benefits for their customers.

“It’s difficult in today’s industry to find a single product or service that will add 10% to an operation’s bottom line,” says Jason Leary, ag technology lead for Crystal Valley. “The silver bullets have been spent, and we work together with customers to identify the next ten 1% changes to implement on their farm.”

As noted by the judges, Crystal Valley is “using data to make decisions for customers” and are innovating and adapting to meet farmers’ technology needs, with an eye toward long-term growth and development of its 79 precision and agronomy-focused employees.  

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