Land O'Lakes

Land O'Lakes is a member-owned agricultural cooperative based in the United States, with its headquarters in Arden Hills, Minnesota. Founded in 1921, it is one of the nation's largest cooperatives, operating across the dairy, animal nutrition, and crop inputs sectors. The company is well-known for its flagship butter and other consumer food products, while its core business also includes providing agronomy, seed, and technology services to farmers through its WinField United and Truterra subsidiaries.

History

The cooperative was formed in 1921 in Saint Paul, Minnesota, by a group of dairy farmers seeking better market access, originally named the Minnesota Cooperative Creameries Association. A pivotal moment came in 1924 with the introduction of a novel packaged butter product, for which the name "Land O'Lakes" was trademarked, inspired by the state's many lakes. The organization grew through mergers with other regional cooperatives, such as the Iowa State Creamery Association, and expanded its scope beyond butter production. Significant growth occurred in the 1990s and 2000s, including the acquisition of Purina Mills, a major animal feed company, in 2001, and the formation of WinField Solutions (now WinField United) to serve crop production needs. In 2015, the cooperative sold its Lely dairy equipment business and has since focused on integrating its dairy foods, animal feed, and crop inputs divisions.

Products and brands

The company's operations are divided into three core business units. The Consumer Foods division is famous for its Land O'Lakes Butter, Land O'Lakes Cheese, and Land O'Lakes Deli Cheese, which are staples in grocery stores nationwide. Its Dairy Foods unit supplies butter, cheese, and powdered milk ingredients to major foodservice companies, restaurant chains, and food manufacturers like General Mills and Nestlé. The Animal Nutrition segment, operating under the Purina Animal Nutrition brand, produces feeds for livestock, poultry, and pets. The Crop Inputs segment, under the WinField United brand, provides seed, crop protection products, and digital agronomy services, while its Truterra platform focuses on sustainability and carbon market programs for farmers.

Operations and sustainability

As a farmer-owned cooperative, its operations are deeply integrated with American agriculture, procuring milk from member farms and distributing products through a vast network of retailers, distributors, and dealer networks. The company emphasizes sustainable agriculture through initiatives like the Truterra platform, which helps farmers adopt conservation practices and measure environmental outcomes. It has set public goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions within its supply chain and improving soil health, partnering with organizations like the Soil Health Institute and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy. Its research and development efforts, often conducted at facilities like its River Falls, Wisconsin dairy research center, focus on product innovation and agricultural technology.

Corporate affairs

Land O'Lakes is governed by a board of directors elected from its member-owners, which include thousands of agricultural producers across the United States. The cooperative has been led by President and CEO Beth Ford since 2018, who is a prominent voice in agricultural policy. It is a active participant in industry groups such as the National Milk Producers Federation and the Agricultural Retailers Association. The company engages in significant lobbying efforts in Washington, D.C., advocating on issues related to farm policy, trade, rural broadband access, and immigration reform for agricultural workers. Its corporate foundation supports rural communities through programs focused on education and community vitality.

Controversies

The cooperative has faced several controversies over its long history. In 2020, it decided to remove the depiction of a Native American woman, known as Mia, from its butter packaging, following years of criticism from groups like the National Congress of American Indians who labeled the image a racial stereotype. It has also been involved in legal disputes, including a 2016 antitrust lawsuit with Dairy Farmers of America over milk marketing that was later settled. Furthermore, the company's Purina Animal Nutrition subsidiary has occasionally faced lawsuits and regulatory scrutiny, such as from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, concerning product safety and labeling claims for its animal feed products.

Category:Agricultural cooperatives in the United States Category:Companies based in Minnesota Category:Dairy companies of the United States Category:Food and drink companies established in 1921