The Eastern Montana region, featuring the scenic locales of Circle and Terry, presents a broad array of crops and farming techniques. The region epitomizes agricultural diversity and innovation from the dryland farming in Circle to the combination of irrigated and dryland farming practices in Terry.
Transitioning from a wheat-centric focus, Eastern Montana now embraces a wealth of different crops, including pulses, flax, mustard and more. This agricultural diversity underscores the need for bespoke strategies—each tailored to a farmer's circumstances, transcending the conventional one-size-fits-all approach.
Farmers Union Oil of Circle & Terry, a small two-location cooperative in the heart of eastern Montana, stands firm as a true ally, serving members with competitively priced products and friendly services. It offers tailored services promoting sustainable farming practices and competitively priced fuel, propane, fertilizer and tires. Its customized advice and resources have resulted in proven regional success. The firm’s recent expansion into crop protection and seed, coupled with a state-of the-art dry fertilizer facility, reflects a commitment to efficiency and excellence in meeting the evolving demands of the region’s growers.
We prioritize understanding and meeting our clients’ requirements rather than just focusing on sales figures
“Our business principles are rooted in offering upfront, honest products and services. We prioritize understanding and meeting our clients’ requirements rather than just focusing on sales figures,” says Lee Jensen, agronomy supervisor of Farmers Union Oil of Circle & Terry.
Farmers Union Oil of Circle & Terry's mission is clear – to provide high-quality fertilizer at an excellent price. Bringing almost a century-old legacy in farm and ranch supply, the company leverages its increased purchasing capacity through a new fertilizer plant to secure better prices for clients. The team ensures they purchase fertilizers in huge quantities at the best price during the year and pass on the savings to the members.
The new facility, upgrading from 2,000 to 8,500 tons of dry storage, includes a fast tower loadout system, enhancing efficiency. This enhancement enables the team to focus on the agronomic needs of growers beyond the daily supply challenges. The upgrade is timely, considering the increasing scale of customers' operations and the need for larger, more efficient equipment. As farms continue to expand, the facility's capability to provide inputs, fertilizers and chemicals within a specific window allowed for crop planting in the spring is critical. The bigger plant and increased capacity allow for higher efficiency and better supply chain management for all growers.
The company goes above and beyond to support growers by offering top-notch soil and zone sampling services. This allows for precisely determining each crop's fertilizer needs based on the specific fields. Growers are required to diversify and plant different crops, which necessitates rotations and agronomic considerations. Underscoring the value of local supply and region-specific advice, the team provides expert advice on crop rotations, agronomics and chemical applications, demonstrating a commitment to sustainability and efficient use of resources. Its customer-centric, service-oriented approach includes product delivery, a vital support in overcoming widespread labor shortages.
Farmers Union Oil of Circle & Terry is adapting to the constantly changing agricultural landscape. Over the past five years, it has experienced significant growth, particularly in crop protection products and seeds, expanding its offerings to meet the evolving demands of the region.
The company's focus on efficiency, localized expertise, and supporting the diverse needs of growers makes it an invaluable partner for profitable and sustainable farming operations in eastern Montana.