Growers learn of sale in letter WednesdayA Minneapolis-based company has purchased the Busch Agricultural Resources barley processing facilities at Ralston and Powell.Barley growers across the Powell growing area received letters Wednesday advising them that Riverland Ag had bought the facilities. The letters state that Riverland Ag “expects to keep the current staff at the Ralston and Powell facilities.”

The company owns and operates at least 12 grain elevators in Minnesota, North Dakota, New York and Ontario, Canada, with more than 40 million bushels of grain storage capacity, according to information from the company.

The Powell Tribune obtained a copy of the letter signed by Andy Zenor of Anheuser-Busch and Don Grambsch, Riverland president and chief executive officer, on Wednesday.

“Busch Agricultural Resources chose Riverland Ag because of its diverse operations and ability to continue to offer competitive programs for malting barley and other commodities,” states the letter. “We at Busch Agricultural Resources sincerely appreciate our long-term relationship and collaboration with you in making Wyoming and southern Montana a strong barley supply source and we look forward to our ongoing success working with Riverland Ag.”

The companies will host a growers' meeting Sept. 16 to answer their questions about the sale, which is scheduled to be completed by Sept. 30. Lunch will be served at the meeting, which takes place at noon at the Eagles Lodge on Clark Street. In the meantime, the letter directs growers' questions to manager Richard Redd at the Ralston elevator.

On Wednesday, Redd told the Tribune he was unable to answer questions about the sale until he receives a press release from company officials. At the growers' meeting, “We'll try to answer questions as we can,” Redd said.

Barley grower Rick Stroh said he was surprised at news of the sale.

“It sounds like it's a done deal,” he said, adding that he hoped the new company “will be a little more on the farmers' side to help us out a little bit.”

The past few years have seen high fuel, fertilizer and equipment parts costs while crop payments may not keep pace, he said.

“Everything's so darned expensive anymore,” Stroh said.

Penrose barley grower Fred Hopkin also was surprised to receive the letter on Wednesday.

“It was completely news to me,” he said. “At this point it seems fairly significant.”