CRI - AgSource Cooperative
CRI - AgSource Cooperative is a company.
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Leadership Team
Key people at CRI - AgSource Cooperative.
CRI - AgSource Cooperative is a company.
Key people at CRI - AgSource Cooperative.
Key people at CRI - AgSource Cooperative.
Cooperative Resources International (CRI) is a member-owned holding cooperative headquartered in Shawano, Wisconsin, that oversees subsidiaries providing essential services to agriculture, primarily through AgSource Cooperative Services.[1][3] AgSource, a key subsidiary, specializes in laboratory testing and analysis for dairy, soil, agronomy, turf, food, and environmental sectors, delivering science-backed data to help farmers, producers, and businesses optimize decisions, herd health, crop management, and compliance.[4][6] With origins in dairy herd improvement, CRI generates around $160 million in annual revenue, employs over 1,300 people, and supports nationwide and international members by solving critical problems in data accuracy, profitability, and farm efficiency through testing, consulting, and herd management tools.[2][1]
CRI's structure as a "mother cooperative" enables shared central services like finance, HR, and IT across subsidiaries including Genex (cattle genetics) and others, fostering growth from local dairy roots to a multifaceted ag leader.[1][2]
CRI traces its roots to the 1940s through mergers of cooperatives like Central Livestock Association (founded 1886).[2] Key milestones include 1981's rename to Wisconsin Dairy Herd Improvement Cooperative, 1986's first delegate meeting, and 1993's formation of CRI via the merger of WDHIC and 21st Century Genetics, eliminating state lines for broader DHI services.[2] AgSource evolved from these dairy records efforts starting in 1959, expanding via acquisitions like North West Labs (2005, Jerome, ID) and Harris Laboratories (2006, Lincoln, NE).[2][4]
By 2013, CRI marked 20 years with assets growing from $23 million in 1993 to $116 million, reflecting member-driven expansion in labs and genetics.[7][2] Recent developments include AgSource transitioning to an independent cooperative while upholding its testing mission.[6]
CRI and AgSource ride the wave of precision agriculture, where data analytics and lab testing intersect with farm tech to boost yields amid climate pressures and sustainability demands.[4][6] Timing aligns with rising needs for herd health monitoring, soil optimization, and food safety compliance, fueled by regulatory forces and consumer demands for traceable ag products.[2][6] They influence the ecosystem by supplying industry-wide benchmarks from member data, supporting genetics R&D via Genex, and enabling smarter decisions that reduce waste and enhance resilience in dairy (largest DHI provider) and agronomy.[1][2]
CRI/AgSource will likely deepen precision ag integration, expanding lab tech for carbon tracking, greenhouse optimization, and AI-driven reporting amid 2025 crop pushes.[6][5] Trends like sustainability mandates and data interoperability will shape growth, with AgSource's independent status potentially accelerating innovation. Their member focus positions them to evolve from testing leader to full ag-tech enabler, sustaining influence in a data-hungry farm economy—delivering the confidence farmers need, one test at a time.[6][4]