MKC helps donate rescue equipment

MKC Director of Northern Operations, Steve Peterson, (center)

joins other ag representatives in the donation of a RESQ-tube. 

Representatives from area ag-related businesses hope that the Minneapolis Fire Department never has to use a piece of rescue equipment known as a RESQ-tube.

The RESQ-tube aids in rescue during a grain engulfment when a person has become entrapped in grain.  The equipment, made possible through a joint donation by MKC, Scoular Grain, Delphos Co-op and Scoular Grain was presented to the Minneapolis firemen because of their central location in Ottawa County. It will be used for emergency situations throughout the county including commercial and private farming operations.

The Minneapolis Fire Department is the third emergency response department in which MKC has assisted in the purchase of a RESQ-tube.

 

Producers asked to provide feedback

Producers are asked to participate in meetings that will be conducted throughout MKC’s territory during the month of November.

 

The meetings will be used to gain feedback from area producers on what the cooperative can do to help make their operations more successful. In addition, MKC management will share information about current projects.  MKC’s President and CEO, Dave Christiansen, along with Directors of Operations, Steve Peterson and Erik Lange, will facilitate the meetings.

MKC donates to Walton Rural Life Center

MKC recently presented a check for $4,000 to the Walton Rural Life Center in Walton.  Jeff Naysmith, MKC’s Location Manager at Walton made the presentation which was part of a matching funds program through Land O’ Lakes and the “Shared Success” program offered by CoBank.


Jeff Naysmith, MKC Location Manager, presents a
donation to students from Walton Rural Life Center.

“We truly appreciate this donation and would like to give a big Walton Rural Life Center thank you from the students and staff,” said Natise Vogt, Principal.  “Part of the money will go directly to enhance our project-based learning and part will go into our foundation for expanding the school.

MKC announces favorable private letter ruling

MKC announced that it has received a favorable private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue Service with respect to the application of the rules in subchapter T of the Internal Revenue Code (concerning the taxation of cooperatives and their patrons) and the calculation of the Domestic Production Activities Deduction (section 199).

According to Danny Posch, Chief Financial Officer, the ruling will allow the cooperative to significantly increase the annual tax deduction allowed under the Domestic Production Activities Deduction.  “The ruling supports our position that with modest changes to the grain settlement process, grain purchased from our members through Team Marketing Alliance (TMA) can be considered per-unit retain allocations paid in money with respect to the Domestic Production Activities Deduction calculation,” states Posch.  “This simple clarification will allow the cooperative to increase the annual tax deduction from approximately $300,000 to $3.5 million.” 

 

Posch added that this deduction, once calculated, can be utilized as a cooperative deduction or passed through to its' members to be utilized on their personal tax returns.  "We anticipate to be fully utilizing this deduction by next year and will be communicating to our membership over the next 10 to 12 months about the benefits of the deduction and how it affects inidividual members."

 

Celebrating the cooperative structure

Do you remember why you chose membership with your local cooperative? It may be among many reasons shared by 130 million people who have also chosen cooperatives, but it most likely has something to do with the common philosophy of people helping people.

Unlike other businesses, cooperatives are not-for-profit, democratically controlled, volunteer-run, member-owned enterprises. They exist to serve their members, and that level of service remains high even during even the toughest times. Instead of issuing stock or paying dividends to outside shareholders, co-ops provide value to their members through their level of customer services and membership checks at the end of each year.

Painting a big picture

Imagine your canvas is 109 feet tall and 250 feet wide.  While you don’t have to worry about painting with too many colors, you still want your work to resemble that of a masterpiece.

Crews from H and H Construction, located in Nebraska, were hired to paint a big picture for MKC. Well, maybe not a picture, but the canvas they are painting is a rather large one! The concrete elevator silos located in Buhler have been undergoing a facelift this past month.   

Repair work began August 20 as the crews repaired and sealed the areas where weather had caused the paint to chip away.  Painting began in September and is expected to be completed towards the end of this month or early November, weather permitting. 

When completed, this masterpiece will provide a picturesque backdrop to the business district located on Main Street in downtown Buhler. 



Crews prepare for painting by repairing and sealing areas
in which paint has chipped away.



Crews prepare for painting by repairing and sealing areas
in which paint had chipped away.

 

With completion of the west side, crews move to the south side.