The early spring of 2025 marked 102 years of IFA serving farmers and ranchers in the Intermountain West. This accomplishment recognizes IFA’s sustained success over the last century.
When you look back at what life looked like in 1923 and compare it to our life today, it seems impossible. Only 12% of U.S. businesses survive past 26 years. Even fewer — less than half of one percent — make it to the century mark, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That means for every 10,000 businesses started, there will be fewer than 50 operating 100 years from now.
The greatest challenge to businesses is constant change. To survive, businesses must adapt to changing technology, customer preferences, markets, and regulations. Technology moves so fast in agriculture that you feel outdated the day after you upgrade; always chasing the next innovation. From drones and autonomous tractors to artificial intelligence, there are so many new and exciting tools, it’s hard to know where to invest your capital.
As commerce is increasingly pushed online and purchasing experiences become impersonal, we see fewer companies spending capital on brick-and-mortar locations. It begs the question, why would IFA spend valuable capital on expanding facilities? For us, the answer is simple: customer service.
Expanding Agronomy Services in Northern Utah
IFA is excited to announce the recent groundbreaking of a new state-of-the-art agronomy center in Trenton, Utah. To improve our customer experience and bring value to the farmers of Northern Utah, this facility opens in mid-November, replacing the existing Ag center located in Lewiston, Utah. Now, you'll get better service across Cache, Box Elder, Morgan, Rich, and Weber counties, plus Southern Idaho and Southwest Wyoming.
This new facility will optimize operational efficiency, streamline workflow, reduce bottlenecks, and improve overall productivity. The added capacity to store and warehouse products means better prices and availability for our northern markets. The center allows us to accommodate growing demand and expand our service capabilities. Bottom line: This facility allows us to better serve our customers by offering greater savings and convenience to our patrons.
100 Years and Still Growing
As we wrap up this year’s growing season, we want to thank you for your continued support of IFA and agriculture. We are your farm cooperative, and we would not have survived the last 100 years without you, the farmer. This agronomy center in Northern Utah is a strategic investment in our future. It’s one of the changes that will keep us growing and moving forward for another 100 years.
Written by Larry Dockery, V.P., Agronomy Marketing & Operations and originally published in the IFA Cooperator magazine (vol. 91, no. 4) Winter 2025.
Larry Dockery is the Vice President of Agronomy Marketing and Operations for IFA. In this role, he helps intermountain farmers grow and find success by sourcing products more efficiently and effectively. Larry earned his bachelor’s degree from Utah State University before starting his career with IFA. He loves working with farmers to improve their crops and soils and finds it humbling to be involved in helping producers to grow.