Grain Policies

Your hard work and dedication in the field deserve a transparent and reliable partner.

Local relationships built on experience, trust, and communication allow us to equip you with the necessary knowledge to support a thriving grain operation.

Navigating grain policies with Five Star Cooperative

Our grain buying services are a cornerstone of our cooperative, and we believe in empowering our members and customers with a clear understanding of our grain policies.

Our grain policies are built on the principles of fairness, transparency, and efficiency, all with the goal of maximizing returns for you, our valued farmer members and customers.

Our Grain Policies are designed to:
Ensure Fair and Transparent Transactions
You deserve to know exactly how your grain is being evaluated and priced.
Maintain the Quality and 
Integrity of Stored Grain
We take pride in preserving the value of your harvested crop.
Provide Efficient and Reliable 
Handling and Disposition
We strive for a smooth and seamless process from delivery to sale.

Benefits

The advantages of Selling grain to Five Star

Understanding our grain policies isn’t just about knowing the rules – it’s about gaining a competitive edge and building a stronger partnership with Five Star Cooperative. Here’s how:

Transparency and Trust

Our clear and well-defined grain transaction policies build confidence. You’ll understand the processes involved, fostering a relationship built on trust and open communication.

Maximizing Profitability

By understanding our policies on grain grading, potential grain discounts, and our payment terms, you can make informed decisions about when and how to sell your grain for the best possible grain profitability. Plus, your loyalty earns Five Star Bucks on every bushel you sell to us.

Efficient Operations

Knowing our grain delivery procedures and grain storage procedures will streamline your operations, saving you time and hassle during busy harvest seasons.

Quality Assurance

Our commitment to maintaining high grain quality through established grain standards and proper storage practices ensures the value of your harvested crop value is protected.

Informed Decision-Making

Access to clear grain policies empowers you to make strategic choices about your grain, whether you’re considering cash sales, forward contracts, or other options.

Strong Partnership

Our commitment to transparent farmer partnership is reflected in our clear and accessible policies. We’re here to work with you for your success.

Grain Standards

We adhere to the highest industry grain grading standards to provide accurate and consistent assessments of your grain’s quality.

Grain Storage

Five Star Cooperative offers a range of grain storage options to meet your needs, providing a secure and quality-controlled environment for your harvested crops.

Quality Control Standards

Five Star Cooperative offers ability to deliver your corn to be used in custom feed grinding rations (grain bank fees apply.)

Grain disposition

Five Star Cooperative offers a variety of grain marketing options designed to help you maximize your returns and manage price risk effectively. Our policies related to the sale and movement of your grain are designed to be clear and straightforward.

Our grain payment terms are clearly defined, outlining payment schedules and methods. We strive for prompt and reliable payment for your delivered grain. Specific payment timelines will be outlined in your sales agreements.

Our policies regarding grain delivery and grain transportation from your farm to our locations are designed for efficiency. We will communicate any specific delivery schedules, unloading procedures, and transportation guidelines.

The process for the grain ownership transfer will be clearly documented at the time of sale or storage agreement. We ensure a transparent and legally sound transfer process.

Any potential grain shrink (loss of volume due to moisture loss or handling) and associated handling charges will be clearly communicated upfront. Our goal is to be transparent about any factors that may affect the final quantity of your grain.

Grain policies for corn – soybeans – other rates

Five Star Cooperative understands that getting your grain to market efficiently is just as important as securing a good price.

We offer comprehensive grain delivery and logistics support to streamline the process. Our services include coordinating grain transportation and grain hauling, ensuring your grain reaches its destination on time. We also provide information on grain storage facilities, helping you manage your inventory effectively. We handle the logistical complexities, so you can focus on what you do best.

Five Star 2025-2026 Grain Policies

The following rates, discounts, and conditions apply to all grain brought to Five Star Cooperative grain storage facilities.

  • It’s the farmer’s responsibility to advise us of the marketing intentions for each load of grain.
  • Grain must be settled within 10 days of average delivery OR a maximum of 15 days from the first date of delivery. At this conclusion, unsettled grain WILL be put to storage and appropriate charges applied without notice.
  • Please be sure to let the counter personnel know if the grain ticket is to be split at the time of delivery.
  • Priced grain wanting to be put towards deferred payment should be notified prior to delivery. Please call a Five Star grain representative to discuss your options.
View 2025-2026 Grain Policies and Rates:
*These policies are subject to change as market conditions dictate

Corn Rates

Corn Moisture

Sell: 15%
Warehouse: 14%
Price Later: 15%
Grain Bank: 15%
Shrink: 1.45% per point removed
(1.18 moisture shrink plus 0.27% handling shrink = 1.45% total shrink)
Averaging: 15.5% and below as one lot, 15.6% and above as one lot
Drying: 5.5 cents per point of moisture removed
*No minimum.
*All moisture % will be rounded up to the nearest 1 tenth of a percent.

Corn Discounts

Test Weight:
53.9-52.0 pounds: 2 cent per pound
51.9-50.0 pounds: 3 cents per pound
Under 50 pounds: 5 cents per pound

Damage:
1 cent per point 5.1 to 7.0
2 cents per point 7.1 to 10.0
3 cents per point 10.1 and up
Over 20.0 subject to rejection

FM:
2 cents per point 3.1 to 4.0
3 cents per point 4.1 to 5.0
4 cents per point over 5.0

Heat Damage:
2 cents per bushel .3% to .5%
4 cents per bushel .6% and up

Other Factors (Subject to rejection):
Musty: 5 cents
Sour: 10 cents
Weevils: 10 cents
Rodent excrement: 20 cents
Heating: 10 cents
COFO: 10 cents
Presence of Aflatoxin

Soybeans

Soybean Moisture
Sell: 13%
Warehouse: 13%
Moisture Discount: 1.5% of contract price for each half percent moisture over 13% up to 15%. 2% of contract price for each half percent over 15%.
Averaging: 14.0% and below one lot, 14.1% up to 15% one lot 15.1% to 16% another lot and so on. Beans over 15% may be forced to sell. Beans over 15% subject to rejection. Warehouse beans over 14% will be shrunk to 14% at 1.5% for each half percent over 14% up to 15%. Above 15% shrunk to 2% per half point over 15%.
Soybean Discounts

Test Weight:
1 cent each point under 54 pounds
Damage:
2 cents per point 2.1 to 5.0
3 cents per point 5.1 to 8.0 max
Splits:
One quarter cent each 5% over 20%

FM:
Foreign materal above 1% to the nearest tenth of a percent will be deducted from gross weight

Heat Damage:
2 cents per bushel .3% to .5%
4 cents per bushel .6% to 2.0%

Other Factors (Subject to rejection):
Musty: 5 cents
Sour: 10 cents
Infested: 10 cents
COFO: 10 cents

Other Rates

Price Later Service Charge

Corn & Soybeans

22 cent minimum through Dec. 31, 2025.
5 cents per month Jan. 2026 through Sept. 18, 2026.

Price Later bushels may only be sold against nearby/spot bid.

Storage Rates

Corn & Soybeans

22 cent minimum per bushel for the first 90 days or fraction thereof .20(1/5) of a cent/bu per day thereafter or fraction thereof.

Example: 1 cent for 5 days, 6 cents for 30 days

Grain Bank Rates

Grain deposited solely for the purpose of redelivery as ground feed will be charged:

  • 15 cents/bushel for the first 60 days if delivered between the dates of Oct 1 and Nov 30th and thereafter .1 cent per day
  • 5 cents/bushel for the first 60 days if delivered after November 30th and thereafter 0.1 cent per day

Any grain deposited as grain bank and later sold or withdrawn as whole grain will be subject to regular storage tariff and load out charges.

Klemme 2025-2026 Corn Grain Policies

Grain Disposition

The following discounts apply to any corn brought into Klemme Feed Mill.

  • It’s the farmer’s responsibility to advise us of the marketing intentions for each load of grain.
  • Grain must be settled within 10 days of average delivery OR a maximum of 15 days from the first date of delivery.
  • Please be sure to let the counter personnel know if the grain ticket is to be split at the time of delivery.
  • No Priced Later or Open Storage offerred.
  • Priced grain wanting to be put towards deferred payment should be notified prior to delivery. Please call a Five Star grain representative to discuss your options.
Grain Receiving Hours

Tuesday-Thursday 7:30AM-3:30PM, normal opening times.

We will be flexible in our closing time as harvest demands and delivery schedules dictate.

Any change in hours will be posted.

Sign up to receive text messages related to receiving hours by texting the number (641) 552-0896 with your name and “Klemme Harvest Hours”.

Contact us to make arrangements for after hours receiving at (641) 587-2207 or (800) 267-5496.

Corn delivered but not contracted or any over-run will not be sold until discussed with a Five Star Grain Buyer/Administrators.
Phone numbers

Corn Rates

Corn Moisture

Range:
15.6-16.0
16.1-16.5
16.6 & over

Discount:
$0.06
$0.12
$0.06 for each 1/2 pint

Corn Discounts

Test Weight:
53.9-52.0 pounds: 2 cent per pound
51.9-50.0 pounds: 3 cents per pound
Under 50 pounds: 5 cents per pound

Other Factors (Subject to rejection):

  • High Moisture Corn (16% and over)
  • Low Test Weight Corn
  • Corn over 3% FM
  • Corn over 5% Damage
  • Musty Smell
  • Odor
  • Weevils
  • Presence of Aflatoxin
Ready to contract your grain with Five Star?

Submit an offer through our Five Star Link app for current customers. If you are a new customer, reach out to our grain team below or contact us form.

Marc Fullerton
Operations Manager
Dougherty
Craig Christenson
Operations Manager
Hanlontown & Scarville
Matt Knoke
Operations Manager | Grain Operation Manager
Ionia, Nashua, New Hampton & North Washington
David Stevenson
David Stevenson
Operations Manager
Lawler
Richard Nagele
Operations Manager
Lime Springs
Josh Trebilcock
Operations Manager
Rockwell & Sheffield
Jenn Miller
Grain Originator|Operations Manager
Hanlontown
Jason Fisher
Grain Origination Lead
Nashua
Sara Titus
Grain Accounting Assistant | Originator
Rockwell & Sheffield
Brooke Kluver
Grain Originator
Ventura & Scarville
Bryce Brincks
Grain Logistics Lead
New Hampton
Jim Corporon
Grain Service and Logistics Specialist
Mason City
Rylan Zwanziger
Grain Merchandiser
New Hampton
Andy Schuster
Operations Manager
Burchinal
Marc Throndson
Grain Director
New Hampton

Resources

Here are some Iowa resources. The Iowa Governor typically issues a proclamation during harvest for increased weight limits for transporting ag goods. We also work closely with the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to stay in compliance. There are several associations for advocacy available to our members as well.

LINKS

Five Star Cash Bids

Stop here for all your latest 10-minute delayed grain cash bids.

Selling your grain is easy with our Five Star Link app. View bids, enter grain offers, sign contracts, and more at your fingertips.

Five Star Bucks

Earn Bucks when you sell your grain to Five Star.

These are real dollars to spend on your Five Star seed, chemical, and NexStar purchases. Learn more about the Five Star Bucks program.

Five Star Text Alerts

Five Star sends important information via text message.

If you would like to sign up for any of the following information, please send a text to (641) 552-0896 with:

  • Grain Cash Bids
  • Harvest Hours
  • Spring Agronomy Hours
  • Energy Prices
  • Swine Feed Updates