The cooperative that serves Walla-Walla area farmers and other local customers as CHS Farmers Co-op will join forces with another similar cooperative, CHS Primeland out of Idaho, in a consolidation designed to strengthen the operations.

The producer boards of both operations have agreed to the consolidation announced Wednesday.

With due diligence the operations are expected to move forward as CHS Primeland starting Sept. 1. The two boards agreed to appoint Ken Blakeman as general manager of the new business.

The changeover should be fairly unnoticed to customers on a day-to-day basis. But the combination should leverage the business’ position in market position and buying power, according to the announcement.

“Both of our businesses are financially strong and coming together will allow us to put the appropriate level of resources into programs and services that help our customers grow their operations,” said Tom Moore, CHS Farmers Co-op board chairman, in a prepared statement.

“Our combined size and scope will enhance our leverage with chemical manufacturers and strengthen our risk management of market positions, among other advantages,” said Tim Eichner, board chairman for CHS Primeland, in the announcement.

CHS Farmers Co-op operates in Walla Walla at 111 N. Ninth Ave., and in Dayton, Prescott, Touchet and Kennewick.

As with CHS Primeland, it’s a full-service ag retailer that’s part of CHS Inc., a Fortune 100 global agribusiness owned by farmers, ranchers and cooperatives across the country. CHS Primeland and CHS Farmers Co-op collectively serve customers in 15 counties in Washington and Idaho.

CHS Inc. supplies energy, crop nutrients, grain marketing services, animal feed, food and food ingredients, among other things. It operates petroleum refineries/pipelines, and manufactures, markets and distributes Cenex brand refined fuels, propane and more.