DEERFIELD, Ohio — It may seem surprising to some that the history of Deerfield Farms Service Inc. dates back to 1959 when it began as a 93-acre corn and hog operation owned by Boyd Wallbrown Jr., and his wife, Joan, at the present site in Deerfield, Ohio.
As Boyd increased his acres, he saw the need and opportunity to sell products and services to area farmers and began to build a retail business.
Through Boyd’s perseverance, innovation and willingness to take risks, the business grew into a full service country elevator, always aimed at meeting farmers’ needs.
Today, Deerfield Farms serves area producers throughout northeastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania in many ways — as a grain elevator, a fertilizer, seed and crop protection products retailer, and as a grain drying, storage, handling and feed equipment supplier.
With a growing team of 70 full- and part-time employees, Deerfield Farms Service maintains focus on customer needs and service, which has led to long working relationships with area farmers.
Grain division
The company’s grain department offers profit-oriented marketing strategies to area producers, including marketing workshops, target orders and one-on-one marketing assistance.
Deerfield Farms Service has also teamed up with Diversified Services to offer crop insurance, a risk management tool.
Offering six elevators with a total storage capacity of just over 3.5 million bushels, the company services the entire region with locations in Deerfield, Louisville, and Kinsman, Ohio; and Volant, Carlton, and Mount Jackson, Pa.
Equipment division
In addition to grain, Deerfield Farms features a full line of grain storage, drying and handling equipment.
Lines for the department include Brock grain bins, feed bins and dryers, Hutchinson augers, DMC stirators and air systems, Baldor motors, and Honeyville bucket elevators.
Equipment division team members can offer Auto CAD layout and design and have many years of equipment installation experience to aid in farm profitability.
Agronomy division
A full service agronomy division is also one more vital piece to the Deerfield Farms Service retail business.
Our agronomy divisions, in both Deerfield and New Wilmington, Pa., offer a full line of agronomic services that include: custom application, crop protection products, crop consulting, and a full line of agricultural seeds and commercial fertilizers.
Dry fertilizer spreader rentals and soil sampling services are also a key part of the wide variety of services offered to producers.
Deerfield Farms’ agronomy division strives to help producers achieve maximum yield levels while at the same time attempting to minimize their input costs.
Continued growth
Although 2008 was a trying year for some, Deerfield Farms was prepared for the storm and managed to persevere on a path of continued growth by maintaining focus on what they do best — providing value-added service to the customer.
With recent facility expansions and steady growth in human capital, the company maintained awareness of, but refused to be taken down by, the state of the general economy.
To get ahead of the storm, proactive efforts were taken to strengthen both the company’s practices and their people. These efforts, which included the adaptation of the latest technologies, the purchase of several pieces of updated equipment and the opportunity of additional training for their team, have helped to create greater efficiencies; keeping costs down for both themselves and the customer.
On the horizon are plans to relocate the Pennsylvania agronomy service location from New Wilmington to Volant, where the new grain elevator is located on Black Road.
Deerfield Farms, having been in business for 50 years, is committed to the ag industry and promises a bright future. The company anticipates continued and steady growth as it maintains focus, expands into new territories and embraces additional opportunities to service the customer.
Whether it is a grain contract, equipment purchase, or agronomic decision, the team at Deerfield Farms Service will always, now or five years from now, work to form strong ties within the ag community and lasting partnerships together with their customer base.
Contact. Deerfield Farms Service’s main office is located at 9041 state Route 224, just west of the circle in Deerfield, Ohio.
For more information call 330-584-4715 or 800-589-8606 or visit them on the Web at www.deerfieldfarms.com.
