MCFB has decided to bring back the monthly business profile in our Farm News. We thought it was fitting that we chose Stanislaus Farm Supply (Farm Supply) as our first profile due to their longevity, their commitment as a small company to provide big services to agriculture, and their remarkable community involvement. Farm Supply began in 1949 with the help of the Farm Bureau. A small group of county growers led by Joe Sousa, Fred Thiemann, and Maurice McDonald created a grower-owner business to meet the needs of area farmers.

Farm Supply prides themselves’ on being a cooperative, not a large corporation. Customers are the owners and Farm Supply has remained in business by being productive and profitable through providing technical agronomic advice, crop inputs, farm services and general farm supplies. As a result they continue to think of new ideas to help customers maximize their efficiency. As a cooperative, Farm Supply is excited to take the lead to help area growers remain proactive.

If you drive out to their Modesto location you will notice their research field. They test different plant varieties so their customers can see firsthand what works best for the region. Farm Supply also has advisors that work closely with growers to determine the right balance of nutrients they need to apply to their crops. The advisors also help growers select crop protection products that will deliver the best results without harming the environment. Protecting natural resources is important to Farm
Supply. Sam Bettencourt, CEO and President stated, “We are all in this together. Farmers are environmentalist themselves. They need to care for the land in order to be productive.”

Farm Supply provides a complete line of ag products, from fertilizer to feed, crop protection to seed, as well as free delivery.

They understand farming is not a Monday through Friday job – Farm Supply is open on Saturdays and they have an on-farm tire service available 24/7.

Community involvement is an integral part of Farm Supply when it comes to supporting the next generation of farmers and ranchers. For many years they have supported local 4-H and FFA members, by offering participants discounts on feed and purchasing their livestock projects at local county fairs. After all, these participants are the next generation and Farm Supply knows they are their future customers, and some may even be members of the Farm Supply team one day.

Farm Supply stores are open to the public Monday – Saturday. They have two locations in California – Merced Store, 674 South Highway 59, Merced and Modesto Store, 624 East Service Road, Modesto. Recently Farm Supply took the big leap into Nevada and finalized the purchase of two new retail locations in Yerington, Nevada. One is a general retail site and the other is an agronomic commercial site. These locations mark yet another important step for Farm Supply in expanding the company’s cooperative role further into the Western United States. “As a demand for food grows, we focus on supplying farmers with the best products and services to make the most of the land,” said Nick Biscay, Executive Vice President. “We see Nevada as an area where we can impact crop production and quality.”

On behalf of MCFB, thank you Stanislaus Farm Supply for all the support and guidance you give to our industry and the community. For more information about Farm Supply you can visit their website at www.stanislausfarmsupply.com or call 1(800) 323-0725.