Bob Zelenka with Minnesota Grain and Feed Association on AM Minnesota

Bob Zelenka, the executive director of the Minnesota Grain and Feed Association, was on today's AM Minnesota program. The Minnesota Grain and Feed Association represents all the country elevators in Minnesota. The grain and feed association and country elevators have really changed and adapted over the years. There was a time when just about all the corn and beans produced in Minnesota were delivered to a country elevator. As farmers expanded their operations, they added on farm drying and storage systems. Some then they used semis they already had to haul their grain to a terminal and pick up a better basis.

The country elevators adapted and began to add agronomy services, custom application and sometimes even fuel delivery. The country elevators also had to adapt to the huge expansion in the ethanol industry in Minnesota. A lot of corn goes from the farm to an ethanol plant, skipping country elevators. Once again country elevators adapted with grain storage for ethanol plants. Ethanol plants do not have a lot of grain storage and they need corn every day. Country elevators used their bins to fill that need. One thing that has not changed at many country elevators is that they are still a meeting place for farmers to have coffee or pop.