Alabama Farmers Cooperative, Inc.

What Alabama Farmers Cooperative, Inc. does

Alabama Farmers Cooperative, Inc. is a farmer-owned agricultural supply and marketing cooperative headquartered in Decatur, Alabama, founded in 1936 when eleven farmers' co-ops pooled $11,000 to form what was then Tennessee Valley Fertilizer Cooperative. It operates through a network of 60+ locally-owned member cooperative retail stores (54 in Alabama, 5 in Northwest Florida, 2 in Southern Tennessee) selling farm inputs — feed, fertilizer, crop nutrients, crop protection, seeds, agronomy services — alongside consumer products such as pet food, garden supplies, and flowers. The cooperative also operates cotton ginning (Frank Currie Gin acquired 1997; Golden Gin acquired July 2025 with 65,000+ bale capacity), aquaculture processing and feed production through SouthFresh Aquaculture (joint venture since 1999, distributing to 150+ U.S. cities), agricultural financing through Cooperative Financial Services (est. 1993, expanded to patron lending in 2023), feed manufacturing through AFC Feed (JV with Purina Animal Nutrition since 2020), and agronomy inputs through GreenPoint Ag (JV with WinField United/Land O'Lakes and Tennessee Farmers Cooperative since 2020, the sixth-largest U.S. agronomy provider across 108 locations in 10 states). Bonnie Plants, a national vegetable and herb plant wholesaler with 80+ stations, 700+ routes, and 17,000+ accounts, has been part of AFC since 1975.

AFC's business model centers on retail input sales through member co-op stores, patronage-based distribution of profits back to members, and equity retirements (returning $90M+ since 2014). Revenue streams include transaction-fee retail sales across the 60+ store network, transaction fees from cotton ginning services, interest income from CFS lending, and patronage allocations/dividends from joint venture holdings (AFC declared $2.3M in total patronage with $1M paid in cash in a recent fiscal year, plus $4.1M-$3.5M in equity retirements annually). The cooperative is governed by a board of directors drawn from each local member co-op, led by President and CEO Rivers Myres and CFO Brad Benson, with Jeff Sims as Board Chairman (elected February 2024). As of FY2025, AFC reported net worth of $362 million and employed 1,001-5,000 people.

Name

Alabama Farmers Cooperative, Inc.

Legal name

Alabama Farmers Cooperative, Inc.

Website

https://alafarm.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1936

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Alabama Farmers Cooperative, Inc. is a farmer-owned agricultural supply and marketing cooperative, founded in 1936 and headquartered in Decatur, Alabama, operating 60+ member retail stores across Alabama, Northwest Florida, and Southern Tennessee that sell farm inputs, feed, fertilizer, and consumer products to farmer-members and gardeners, complemented by cotton ginning, aquaculture processing, feed manufacturing, financing, and agronomy joint ventures.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Supply Distribution

NAICS

Nursery, Garden Center, and Farm Supply Retailers (444240), Aquaculture (1125), Other Crop Farming (1119)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Wholesale-Farm Product Raw Materials (5150)

akta.pro primary industry

Farmer Cooperatives & Co-op Retail (AFABAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Farm Supply Retail (Independent Dealers) (AFABAJAA), Agronomy Advisory & Field Services (Retailer-Affiliated) (AFABAJAH)

Keywords

• Agricultural supply distribution
• Farm cooperative retail
• Feed and fertilizer
• Agronomy services
• Cotton ginning services

Headquarters

HQ city

Decatur

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Retail Co-op Store Sales: AFC generates revenue through the sale of agricultural inputs (feed, fertilizer, crop nutrients, crop protection, seeds) and consumer goods (pet food, gardening supplies) at its member cooperative retail stores across Alabama, Northwest Florida, and Southern Tennessee. Revenue is generated through direct point-of-sale transactions with farmers, gardeners, and consumers.
2. Joint Venture Patronage and Returns: AFC holds ownership stakes in joint ventures including Bonnie Plants, GreenPoint Ag, AFC Feed, SouthFresh Aquaculture, and Cooperative Financial Services. These generate returns through patronage allocations and dividends flowing back to AFC and its member cooperatives. AFC declared total patronage of $2.3 million with $1 million paid in cash for a recent fiscal year.
3. Cotton Ginning Services: AFC operates cotton gins (Frank Currie Gin and Golden Gin) providing ginning services to cotton farmers in Alabama and Florida. Revenue is generated through fees for ginning services, with Golden Gin having maximum capacity exceeding 65,000 bales per year.
4. Financing Services: Cooperative Financial Services (CFS) extends seasonal and term loans to AFC member cooperatives and, since 2023, extends credit to finance purchases of patrons from AFC member co-op stores, generating interest income.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Alabama Farmers Cooperative is a farmer-owned agricultural supply and marketing cooperative operating 60+ locally-owned retail stores across Alabama, Northwest Florida, and Southern Tennessee. It supplies farmers with feed, fertilizer, crop nutrients, crop protection, seeds, and pet/gardening products, while also providing agronomic services, cotton ginning, agricultural financing, and access to national distribution through joint ventures such as Bonnie Plants, GreenPoint Ag, AFC Feed, and SouthFresh Aquaculture.

Product overview

Alabama Farmers Cooperative (AFC) is a farmer-owned cooperative system consisting of over 60 retail store locations across Alabama, Northwest Florida, and Southern Tennessee. The organization operates through three main business channels: (1) a network of locally-owned retail cooperative stores offering feed, fertilizer, agricultural chemicals, pet supplies, and general merchandise; (2) wholly-owned operating divisions including cotton gins (Frank Currie Gin, Golden Gin), SouthFresh Aquaculture (seafood processing and feed manufacturing), and Cooperative Financial Services (agricultural financing); and (3) joint venture subsidiaries including Bonnie Plants (vegetable and herb plant wholesaler), AFC Feed (animal feed manufacturing with Purina), and GreenPoint Ag (agronomy products and services). The cooperative also sells branded merchandise including apparel, cookbooks, and commemorative items through its online shop.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AFC Retail Cooperative Store Network
• Bonnie Plants
• AFC Feed
• GreenPoint Ag
• SouthFresh Aquaculture
• Frank Currie Gin
• Golden Gin
• Cooperative Financial Services
• Co-op Merchandise (Online Shop)
• Agricultural Drone Application Program

Quantifiable outcome

• AFC's net worth grew from an initial $11,000 investment in 1936 to $362 million at the close of fiscal year 2025.
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Golden GincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025Golden Gin, a family-owned cotton gin established in 1961 in Jay, Florida, became part of AFC's Gin Division in July 2025. With maximum capacity exceeding 65,000 bales per year, Golden Gin serves cotton farmers in South Alabama and the Florida Panhandle. The acquisition was driven by strategic fit and a shared commitment to protecting employees, farmers, and a six-generation legacy.
• AFC Feed, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020AFC Feed, LLC was formed in January 2020 as a joint venture between AFC and Purina Animal Nutrition. The partnership provides both AFC and Purina branded feed products to Alabama Farmers Cooperative members for resale. AFC Feed oversees purchase and manufacturing of feed products, with the majority produced at the AFC Feed Mill in Decatur, Alabama.
• GreenPoint Ag, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020GreenPoint Ag was formed through the union of three agricultural cooperatives — AFC, WinField United (a subsidiary of Land O'Lakes), and Tennessee Farmers Cooperative — combining their wholesale and retail agronomy businesses. Headquartered in Decatur, Alabama, GreenPoint provides critical agricultural inputs and services from seed and nutrient supply to advanced ag technology solutions, reaching farmers across 108 locations in 10 states. It is the sixth largest provider of agronomy products and services in the United States. AFC plans to move its corporate office to a shared facility with GreenPoint Ag in downtown Decatur.
• Agri-AFC (with WinField United)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003In 2003, AFC formed Agri-AFC as a joint venture with WinField United (a subsidiary of Land O'Lakes). Agri-AFC supplied agronomy products including seeds, crop nutrients, and crop protection throughout Alabama, with additional locations in Georgia, Mississippi, and Florida. This joint venture laid the groundwork for what became GreenPoint Ag.
• SouthFresh Aquaculture, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1999AFC joined forces with SouthFresh Farms in Indianola, Mississippi, in 1999 to form SouthFresh Aquaculture. Headquartered in Northport, Alabama, SouthFresh started with farm-raised catfish processing and has grown into a leading distributor of catfish and seafood products, distributing to over 150 cities across the U.S. SouthFresh Feeds produces high-quality extruded and pelleted feeds for catfish, tilapia, alligator, trout, cattle, and more. SouthFresh became the first U.S. catfish feed mill with BAP (Best Aquaculture Practices) certification.
• Frank Currie GincoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1997Frank Currie Gin, established in 1913 in Escambia County, Alabama, became part of AFC in 1997. Located in Atmore, Alabama, it is a living piece of history standing as a testament to family legacy and agricultural perseverance. The gin has operated continuously for over a century, serving cotton farmers in South Alabama with a commitment to excellent customer service.
• Cooperative Financial Services (CFS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1993AFC created Cooperative Financial Services in 1993 as a financing subsidiary to provide seasonal and term loans to AFC member cooperatives. In 2023, CFS expanded to extend credit to finance purchases of patrons of AFC member co-op stores. CFS empowers farmers and AFC member cooperatives to sustain and grow their operations.
• Bonnie Plants, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1975Bonnie Plants became part of AFC in 1975. Headquartered in Opelika, Alabama, it began as a backyard business in 1918 and has grown into a national wholesaler supplying high-quality vegetable and herb plants to U.S. retailers. Today, Bonnie operates with 80+ stations, 700+ routes, and 17,000+ individual accounts. AFC CEO Rivers Myres highlighted Bonnie Plants' 'Sell More, Waste Less' strategy under President and CEO Mike Sutterer.
• Elberta Farmers CooperativecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorElberta Farmers Cooperative is one of AFC's member co-ops, serving Baldwin County, Alabama. The co-op has been a key partner for Sirmon Farms, providing reliable guidance, support, and agricultural supplies through a relationship built on trust, competitive pricing, and deep community connection.
• Talladega County ExchangecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTalladega County Exchange is one of AFC's member co-ops. It has been an integral partner for Cedar Roost Ranch, providing feed recommendations and supporting the Lovelady family's cattle, hay, and freezer beef operations.
• Alabama Farm-to-School ProgramminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Alabama Farm-to-School Program is a buyer for Sirmon Farms, which supplies sweet potatoes to the program as part of its diversified crop sales.
• Alabama FFAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAFC partners with Alabama FFA by selling commemorative knives (2021 Alabama FFA Commemorative Knife available for $59.99 each), which supports FFA programs and students.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• CHS Inc. CHS is the largest US agricultural cooperative, operating across crop inputs, grain marketing, energy, and food production. It represents the scaled end of the cooperative model AFC occupies — analogous governance and patronage economics, but with vastly greater capital, geographic reach, and downstream diversification.
• Growmark: Growmark is a large US agricultural cooperative serving farmers across the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic with crop inputs, fuel, and grain marketing. While operating at greater scale and in different geographies than AFC, Growmark is a directly comparable farmer-cooperative system with analogous patronage and member-retail economics.
• Nutrien Ag Solutions: Nutrien Ag Solutions is the largest direct-to-grower crop input retailer in North America, offering seed, crop protection, fertilizer, and digital agronomy. It competes with AFC's GreenPoint Ag and member co-ops for farmer input spend, particularly in row-crop geographies adjacent to Alabama.
• WinField United (Land O'Lakes): WinField United is the crop inputs and insights business of Land O'Lakes and AFC's JV partner in GreenPoint Ag and Agri-AFC. It is a broad incumbent in seed, crop protection, and ag technology, supplying many of the same product categories AFC distributes to its member co-ops.

Others

• Bonnie Plants: Bonnie Plants is AFC's wholly-owned vegetable and herb plant subsidiary with 80+ stations, 700+ routes, and 17,000+ accounts nationwide. While not a direct competitor, it is a peer operation within AFC's portfolio and illustrates the wholesale plant distribution business model for benchmarking.

Direct peers

• GreenPoint Ag: GreenPoint Ag is AFC's jointly-controlled agronomy JV with WinField United (Land O'Lakes) and Tennessee Farmers Cooperative. It is the 6th largest US agronomy provider with 108 locations across 10 states, offering seed, crop nutrients, crop protection, and ag technology — directly overlapping with AFC's agronomy product line and serving the same farmer customer base.
• Helena Agri-Enterprises: Helena Agri-Enterprises is a national agronomy provider offering crop inputs, custom application, and precision agriculture services. It directly competes with AFC's GreenPoint Ag JV in the Southeast for agronomy customers and is comparable in its mix of retail distribution and value-added crop services.
• Southern States Cooperative: Southern States Cooperative is a farmer-owned cooperative serving the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast with farm supplies, feed, seed, and agronomy services. It is the closest direct geographic and business-model peer to AFC, operating a similar member-retail store network serving row-crop and livestock producers.
• Tennessee Farmers Cooperative: Tennessee Farmers Cooperative is a direct cooperative peer and AFC's JV partner in GreenPoint Ag. It operates a similar member-owned retail and agronomy model across Tennessee, serving row-crop farmers and ranchers with the same feed, fertilizer, and farm supply inputs AFC offers.

Regional players

• Coastal AgroBusiness: Coastal AgroBusiness is a regional agricultural input distributor serving the Carolinas and adjacent Southeast states with fertilizer, crop protection, and seed. It is comparable to AFC's GreenPoint Ag agronomy footprint but primarily competes in geographies north of AFC's core Alabama market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/alafarm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alabama-farmers-cooperative-inc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Alabama Farmers Cooperative, Inc.