Jdh Farms, Llc
JDH Farms is a fifth-generation, family-owned agricultural commodity trader, animal feed manufacturer, and bulk logistics operator shipping ~22 million tons annually across 11+ U.S. states and international markets to dairy, livestock, ethanol, and biofuel customers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1886
- HeadquartersOmaha, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Jdh Farms, Llc does
JDH Farms, LLC, operating as J.D. Heiskell & Co. (rebranded to JDH in January 2024), is a fifth-generation, family-owned agricultural commodity trading, animal feed manufacturing, and bulk logistics enterprise headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. Founded in 1886, the company operates across more than 11 U.S. states and extends into Canada, Mexico, and Asia through its Heiskell Mexico entity and broader international feed and grain trading desks, shipping approximately 22 million tons of product annually. Its customer base spans commercial dairy, beef, poultry, swine, aquaculture, pet food, ethanol, food and beverage, biofuel producers, and international importers, with JDH reporting roughly 1.57 million cows fed by its customers in 2022.
JDH operates a vertically integrated platform combining feed manufacturing, grain origination and merchandising, and multi-modal logistics (rail, truck, and barge). The company maintains a network of 22+ facilities, branded subsidiaries including Hawkeye Gold (acquired 2011), Gold Star Feed & Grain (acquired 2014), and CSC (acquired 2019), and a new Stratford, Texas grain-handling complex supported by a BNSF Railway partnership. Underlying operations emphasize capital-intensive physical infrastructure rather than proprietary technology platforms, and the business model is anchored in commodity-margin economics, transaction-based merchandising, and long-standing customer relationships in livestock and processed-feed channels. Forbes ranked JDH the 114th-largest U.S. private company in 2021 (132nd in 2017), and the company first crossed $1 billion in sales in 2003.
The go-to-market motion is relationship-driven, with sales force and merchandisers operating across regional feed, grain origination, and export channels. Pricing follows commodity-market benchmarks (corn, soybean meal, wheat by-products, dried distillers grains) plus processing and freight margins. Revenue mechanics blend feed mill throughput, grain trading P&L, transportation/logistics fees, and toll-processing arrangements, with multi-year supply contracts embedded in dairy and ethanol segments. The 2022 transition of CEO leadership to fifth-generation family member Jefferson Hillman signals continuity of the family-control governance model.
Jdh Farms, Llc firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Jdh Farms, Llc
- Legal name
- J.D. Heiskell Holding LLC
- Website
- https://jdhco.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1886
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- JDH Farms is a fifth-generation, family-owned agricultural commodity trader, animal feed manufacturer, and bulk logistics operator shipping ~22 million tons annually across 11+ U.S. states and international markets to dairy, livestock, ethanol, and biofuel customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Jdh Farms, Llc industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Agricultural Commodity Trading & Feed Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Grain and Field Bean Merchant Wholesalers (42451), Farm Product Raw Material Merchant Wholesalers (4245), Grain and Oilseed Milling (3112)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Farm Product Raw Materials (5150)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Grain & Oilseed Trading/Wholesale (AFAIAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Starches, Flours & Milling Products Trading/Wholesale (AFAIAKAH), Commodity Risk Management, Hedging & Brokerage (Food) (AFAIAKAK), Edible Oils & Fats Trading/Wholesale (AFAIAKAC)
Keywords
Where Jdh Farms, Llc is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Omaha
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices22 records
Markets served
Jdh Farms, Llc business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Commodity Trading: JDH buys and sells agricultural commodities (grains, oilseeds, co-products) across domestic and international markets, operating as a merchant between origin and destination markets.
- Animal Feed Manufacturing and Sales: Manufactured animal feed products (ground and flaked corn, pellets, crumbles, tubs, mixed feeds, sacked feeds) and feed ingredients sold to dairy, beef, cattle, poultry, swine, goat, aquaculture, and pet food producers.
- Transportation and Logistics Services: Logistics and transportation services for moving commodities via extensive rail, truck, and barge networks, serving as a key value-add for customers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom commodity and feed solutions |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Jdh Farms, Llc product offering
Product offeringCore offering
JDH (J.D. Heiskell & Co.) is a privately held agricultural commodity trading firm that purchases, sells, and transports grains, oilseeds, and co-products across North America and Asia. The company also manufactures complete feed products for dairy, beef, poultry, swine, aquaculture, and pet food customers, operating through regional subsidiaries including CSC, Hawkeye Gold, and Gold Star Feed and Grain.
Product overview
JDH operates as an integrated commodity trading and livestock feed manufacturing enterprise with three wholly-owned subsidiaries. The main JDH brand offers grains, co-products, and manufactured animal feed across the Western U.S. and Midwest via extensive rail and truck networks. Gold Star Feed and Grain (northeastern U.S.) provides commodity trading and dairy feed solutions. CSC handles feed and grain by-products across the U.S. and Canada. Hawkeye Gold markets ethanol co-products and manages commodity exports. Together they provide end-to-end agricultural commodity and feed solutions from origination to destination markets including the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Asia.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Hawkeye Gold: Specializes in marketing corn and soy co-products for ethanol production facilities in the Upper Midwest. Also exports commodities by container and bulk vessel with logistics and execution capabilities between North American producers and global buyers.
- CSC (Commodity Specialists Company)
- Gold Star Feed and Grain
Products and services
- Grains and Oilseeds Purchase, sale, and transportation of grain and oilseed commodities for industrial buyers, food/beverage manufacturers, flour/corn millers, and biofuel/ethanol producers across the U.S., Mexico, and Asia.
- Co-Products Trading of corn-based and wheat-based co-products supplied to industrial and feed customers, distributed through JDH's multi-modal rail, truck, and barge logistics network.
- Complete Animal Feed Products Manufactured complete feed products formulated for dairy, beef, poultry, swine, aquaculture, and pet food customers, produced through JDH's regional feed manufacturing subsidiaries and ingredient portfolio.
- Calf Feeding Program Specialty calf feeding program offered to dairy and beef producers as part of JDH's complete feed product portfolio.
- CSC JDH subsidiary brand supporting the company's grain origination, merchandising, and feed operations in its regional market.
- Hawkeye Gold JDH subsidiary brand serving the Midwest U.S. market with grain merchandising, ingredients, and feed solutions.
- Gold Star Feed and Grain JDH subsidiary brand providing regional feed and grain offerings to livestock producers in its served territory.
Quantifiable outcome
- 22 million tons of product shipped by rail, truck or barge each year
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Jdh Farms, Llc
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments11 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Jdh Farms, Llc technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Jdh Farms, Llc partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Double J MillingminorDouble J Milling is a strategic partnership in Idaho mentioned in the context of JDH Idaho's growth from one plant to three facilities. JDH Idaho operations expanded significantly under this partnership.
- BNSF RailwaycoreBNSF Railway is serving JDH's new grain handling facility in Stratford, Texas (Sherman County), providing freight transportation for agricultural products across BNSF's network. The partnership enables JDH to transport vital agricultural products efficiently and supports the Texas Panhandle agricultural community. The facility features a double looped rail track served by BNSF.
- Commodity Specialists Company (CSC)coreAcquired in 2019, CSC (now CSC Gold, Inc.) specializes in bringing feed and grain by-products to markets across the U.S. and Canada, focusing on wet brewer's grains, soybean products, cottonseed products, corn by-products and other oilseed products. Part of JDH's integrated subsidiary model.
- Gold Star Feed and GraincoreAcquired 100% in 2014 as a joint venture with Kent Nutrition Group. Gold Star is a leading commodity trading and dairy feed solutions provider for customers in the Northeastern U.S. Part of JDH's integrated subsidiary model.
- Hawkeye Gold LLCcoreAcquired in 2011, Hawkeye Gold specializes in marketing corn and soy co-products for ethanol production facilities in the Upper Midwest and handles container and bulk vessel commodity exports. Part of JDH's integrated subsidiary model.
- DeRaad Warehouse Inc.minorJDH partnered with DeRaad Warehouse Inc. in 1992 to optimize efficiencies. By 1993, JDH assumed full ownership of the operation.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves3 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Jdh Farms, Llc competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Alltech: Privately held global animal nutrition and feed additive company with grain sourcing and on-farm feed programs. Directly comparable to JDH's animal feed and calf program offerings.
- Kent Nutrition Group: Privately held US animal feed manufacturer and former joint venture partner with JDH (Gold Star Feed & Grain). Closely comparable feed manufacturing, dairy nutrition, and commodity supply business.
- Scoular Company: Privately held, US-based commodity trading and supply chain company with grain, feed ingredient, and livestock feed businesses. Closest peer to JDH in scale, ownership structure (employee/private), and commodity-plus-feed strategy.
- CHS Inc. US farmer cooperative and Fortune 100 agribusiness with grain merchandising, animal nutrition, and energy (ethanol/biofuel) segments. Highly comparable to JDH's grain trading plus feed plus ethanol co-product model.
- MFA Incorporated: US farmer cooperative with grain origination, agronomy, and animal feed manufacturing across the Midwest. Comparable regional grain-plus-feed model to JDH's Midwest operations.
- Land O'Lakes (Purina Animal Nutrition): Major US animal feed manufacturer and proprietary nutrition provider through Purina. Directly comparable to JDH's manufactured feed business serving dairy, beef, and poultry producers.
Broad incumbents
- Cargill: World's largest privately held agricultural commodity trader and animal nutrition producer. Directly comparable as a diversified grain merchandiser and feed manufacturer, though vastly larger and more globally diversified than JDH.
- Bunge Global: Global oilseed processor and grain originator with extensive logistics. Comparable to JDH in commodity origination and co-product marketing, though Bunge's footprint is global and oilseed-focused.
- Archer Daniels Midland (ADM): Global agribusiness major with major grain origination, oilseed processing, and animal nutrition businesses. Overlaps with JDH across commodity trading, oilseed co-products, and feed ingredients, but operates at a much larger scale.
- Perdue Agribusiness: Grain merchandising, oilseed processing, and animal feed arm of Perdue Farms. Overlaps with JDH in commodity origination and feed ingredient supply, with East Coast logistics exposure comparable to CSC and Gold Star.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Jdh Farms, Llc social profiles
Digital presenceJdh Farms, Llc financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Jdh Farms, Llc leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Jdh Farms, Llc subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Jdh Farms, Llc funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Jdh Farms, Llc M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Jdh Farms, Llc
What does Jdh Farms, Llc do?
JDH (J.D. Heiskell & Co.) is a privately held agricultural commodity trading firm that purchases, sells, and transports grains, oilseeds, and co-products across North America and Asia. The company also manufactures complete feed products for dairy, beef, poultry, swine, aquaculture, and pet food customers, operating through regional subsidiaries including CSC, Hawkeye Gold, and Gold Star Feed and Grain.
Is Jdh Farms, Llc a public or private company?
Jdh Farms, Llc is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Jdh Farms, Llc founded?
Jdh Farms, Llc was founded in 1886. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Jdh Farms, Llc based?
Jdh Farms, Llc is headquartered in Omaha, United States, in the North America region.
How does Jdh Farms, Llc make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Commodity Trading is the primary driver. The others are animal Feed Manufacturing and Sales and transportation and Logistics Services.
Who are Jdh Farms, Llc's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Alltech, Kent Nutrition Group, Scoular Company, CHS Inc., MFA Incorporated and Land O'Lakes (Purina Animal Nutrition). Broad incumbents are Cargill, Bunge Global, Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) and Perdue Agribusiness.
Does Jdh Farms, Llc have an API?
No public API is recorded for Jdh Farms, Llc.
What industry is Jdh Farms, Llc in?
Jdh Farms, Llc's product category is Agricultural Commodity Trading & Feed Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAIAKAA, Grain & Oilseed Trading/Wholesale, with a secondary code of AFAIAKAH, Starches, Flours & Milling Products Trading/Wholesale. Its NAICS code is 42451 and its SIC code is 5150.