Key Takeaways
- CHS sold its 50% ownership stake in Crestline Crop Nutrients LLC to Sunrise Cooperative.
- The transaction closed on January 29, 2026.
- CHS and Sunrise established a new long-term agreement expanding agronomy service coverage.
- Crestline Crop Nutrients has served Ohio growers since its formation in 2010.
- The transition is intended to streamline operations and support local cooperative members.
CHS and Sunrise Cooperative Announce Ownership Transition
CHS and Sunrise Cooperative announced an evolution of their long-standing partnership aimed at strengthening the crop nutrients supply chain. As part of the transition, CHS has sold its 50% ownership stake in Crestline Crop Nutrients LLC to Sunrise Cooperative, resulting in Sunrise assuming full ownership of the fertilizer blending and storage facility.
Alongside the ownership change, the two organizations entered into a new long-term agreement that expands CHS’s role in supporting Sunrise’s agronomy business. Under the agreement, the organization will serve a greater number of Sunrise locations and increase the volume of crop nutrients supplied through the cooperative system.
“This agreement reflects the CHS commitment to strengthening the cooperative system and ensuring reliable access to high-quality crop nutrients products,” said John Griffith, Executive Vice President, CHS Ag Business and CHS Hedging. “By aligning our capabilities in a new way, CHS and Sunrise can deliver even greater value to producers across Ohio.”
Crestline Crop Nutrients and Cooperative Development
Crestline Crop Nutrients LLC was established in 2010 as a joint venture between both organizations. The facility provides fertilizer blending and storage services to approximately 2,800 cooperative members in Ohio. The joint venture combined CHS’s global agribusiness capabilities with Sunrise’s regional retail operations to expand storage capacity and strengthen nutrient supply reliability for local growers.
According to CHS, the company originally entered the joint venture to support the cooperative system and enhance infrastructure for Sunrise members. With those objectives achieved, transferring ownership to Sunrise is expected to allow for more streamlined decision-making and continued local service.
Sunrise Cooperative Assumes Full Ownership
Sunrise Cooperative, headquartered in Fremont, Ohio, has worked with CHS at the Crestline facility for more than 15 years. Company leadership stated that the cooperative is now positioned to independently manage the facility while continuing to leverage CHS’s agronomy supply capabilities through the new agreement.
“Sunrise has worked collaboratively with CHS for more than 15 years at our Crestline facility to deliver the newest and most innovative crop nutrient products from around the world to growers in Ohio,” said George Secor, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sunrise Cooperative. “Together we’ve grown the cooperative model to the point where Sunrise is well equipped to take sole control of the Crestline facility.”
Transaction Completion and Future Collaboration
The sale of CHS’s ownership interest in Crestline Crop Nutrients LLC closed on January 29, 2026. Both organizations stated that the updated partnership structure is intended to maintain supply reliability, support Ohio growers, and reinforce the cooperative model through complementary roles in the crop nutrients supply chain.
