Automation Improves Mixing Accuracy and Speed at Frenchman Valley Co-op

Company Name: Frenchman Valley Co-op
Location: Chappell, Nebraska
Upgrade: Dry fertilizer blending automation with improved micro-blend accuracy

“Our productivity has probably increased tenfold. When a truck pulls up, we’re ready to go.”
— BJ Franken, Operations Manager, Frenchman Valley Co-op

Key Results

• Up to 10× improvement in productivity
• Faster truck turnaround and reduced wait times
• Improved accuracy for dry blends and VRT micro blends
• Simplified system operation and operator training

The Challenge

As demand increased for precision fertilizer blends — particularly micro blends used in Variable Rate Technology (VRT) applications — Frenchman Valley Co-op needed a more efficient and accurate way to handle blending operations.

Their previous blending setup required significant manual preparation before each load. Preparing, mixing, and staging fertilizer for trucks could take 30 to 40 minutes per load, slowing operations and limiting throughput during busy seasons.

To better serve growers and improve efficiency, the cooperative needed a solution that could increase blending speed while maintaining high accuracy for precision fertilizer applications.

Why Kahler Automation

Frenchman Valley Co-op selected Kahler Automation because of the system’s ease of use, flexibility, and reliability.

The automation platform provides operators with a straightforward-to-learn, easy-to-operate system that still offers the programmable capabilities needed to handle complex blending operations.

This combination of usability and advanced functionality made Kahler Automation a strong fit for the cooperative’s needs.

The Results

After implementing Kahler Automation, Frenchman Valley Co-op saw dramatic improvements in both productivity and blending accuracy.

The new system allows the facility to prepare and load fertilizer far more quickly. Instead of spending 30–40 minutes preparing each load, operators can now have blends ready as trucks arrive.

This improvement has increased overall productivity by as much as tenfold, allowing the cooperative to serve more customers while reducing bottlenecks during peak demand.

Automation has also improved blending precision — particularly for micro blends used in VRT applications, where accurate ingredient ratios are critical.

Precision Blending for Modern Agriculture

With Kahler Automation in place, Frenchman Valley Co-op can consistently achieve the high level of accuracy required for today’s precision agriculture practices.

The system ensures that dry fertilizer blends — including complex micro blends — are mixed accurately and efficiently, helping growers apply the right nutrients at the right rates across their fields.