History of Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers

What started outdoors as a ‘bucket brigade’ has become one of the county’s fastest growing businesses. Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers, headquartered near St. Johns, Michigan, celebrated it’s 25th anniversary as an incorporated business in 2008.

 The company began as a makeshift operation that involved hand labor and 5 gallon buckets as Douglas W. Cook slowly developed the formulas upon which the company’s current “High- Performance” products are based. In those early days, the concept of liquid fertilizer was suspect with most farmers, so as  Mr.Cook worked to develop a more usable product than the traditional dry commodities common in agriculture, he also struggled for acceptance.

Over time, key products were developed and customers were found. In 1983 Cook joined forces with his son-in-law, Troy Bancroft, and their spouses, Eloise and Jill, to incorporate and establish Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizers. The initial production facility was located in Fowler, MI, but in 1985 the fledgling company relocated to a vacant lumber yard at the west edge of St. Johns, MI, where its flagship plant stands today. In 1996, further growth required the corporate offices to move from the plant to their current location across the highway, where a former equipment dealership was remodeled to serve as corporate headquarters.

               

A company hallmark is its research program, unique in the industry and dedicated to continuous innovation. Since 1994, new products and concepts are tested and proven in an extensive field network hubbed at the North Central Research Station, located northwest of St. Johns. Satellite locations across the United States are used to test for regional recommendation differences in all major agricultural areas. There are always several innovative new product concepts being tested throughout this extensive network.

ACLF has grown dramatically since the company was incorporated in April 1983. Two major production facilities have been added: at Williams, Iowa, in 1997 and at Goodland, Kansas, in 2000. A sales force of well over one hundred and twenty is now active in 36 states. The company does business in three countries besides the United States and sales growth has been dramatic, consistently averaging over 20% annually. The company has received honors for several of its achievements, including a national Environmental Respect Award in 1998, a listing among the “Michigan Private 100” for its 5 year annualized revenue growth, and also being identified as one of the “Michigan Top 50” companies to watch.

               

 According to Mr. Bancroft, who is CEO of the family-owned business, the key to their exceptional success is the dedication of the company’s 62 employees. According to Chief Operating Officer, Mrs. Lynette Luna, the company has 5 employees with tenure of more than 20 years, and 16 with ten years or longer. Bancroft feels this workforce stability is a major reason for their sustained growth.

 The future of the company is very promising, and recently, a third generation of ownership has become involved with daily operations.  The Bancroft’s three sons: Nick, Albert, and Gerrit, have begun to accept major responsibilities and are actively involved in planning for the future. To date, Nick serves as the Vice President of Organizational Planning and Operations, Albert as the Marketing Communications Manager, and Gerrit however called upon.