By JANE HOUIN
Ohio Correspondent

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Tough times can make you give up or make you get stronger. United Producers, Inc., of Columbus has used the current economic climate as an incentive to become stronger by focusing on meeting the needs of their customers.

It’s no secret that the economics of the livestock industry were challenging in 2009, with volatile markets, the downturn of the economy and general, depressed prices, and H1N1 scares that affected the swine industry.

But UPI looked at these challenges as opportunities to help their customers. And they did that by increasing communications with their members to determine exactly what their needs were during these difficult times.

“We expanded our risk management offerings and established our coordinated feeder services,” said Abra Dunn of UPI.

“We leased new facilities in Sweet Springs, Mo., and Bowling Green, Ky. Producers Credit Corporation had a record year in loan volume, and UPI also added a new convenience loan program called Producers Advantage.”

UPI has focused on increasing their operation’s efficiency and keeping their members aware of changes that will impact their operations.

They are also looking at new opportunities as well as evaluating their existing programs, facilities and current market viability.
Dunn says UPI is evolving with the changes taking place in the livestock industry and is moving forward on programs that allow producers of all sizes to stay involved in the livestock industry and production.

And that strategy seems to be working. In 2009 the loan volume of Producers Credit Corporation increased 12 percent from 2008 numbers.

“We’re putting more focus on our core,” said Dunn. “We’ve survived and gained opportunities to grow to provide the services our members need.”

UPI is a farmer-owned cooperative with 137 full-time and 446 part-time employees that offers livestock marketing, risk management and financial services to its members. It was founded in 1999 through the consolidation in operations of the Producers Livestock Association, which operated in Ohio and Indiana, and MFA Livestock of Missouri. During the next two years, UPI joined forces with the Interstate Producers Livestock Association of Illinois and the Michigan Livestock Exchange, which operated in Michigan, Indiana and Kentucky. For more than 70 years, these organizations have been providing needed livestock services to their farmer-members.
For more on UPI services that can benefit your livestock operation, visit them online at www.uproducers.com or call 800-465-3276.