A Cooperative Connection That Drives Growth
Pine Lake Corn Processors (PLCP) is more than a neighboring ethanol plant — it’s fully owned by Innovative Ag Services. That means every IAS member has a direct stake in this value-add opportunity. When you deliver grain to IAS, you’re not just selling corn — you’re contributing to a system that creates local demand, generates cooperative returns, and fuels innovation that strengthens our entire region.
Together, we’re expanding markets, supporting rural economies, and building long-term stability that benefits every member — today and for the future.
Economic Impact
Creating local jobs, driving investment, and supporting rural economies.
Member Value
Delivering stronger grain markets, cooperative returns, and long-term stability for all IAS members.
Sustainability
Investing in renewable energy and technologies that reduce carbon intensity and build a cleaner future.
80 Million Gallons of Opportunity
At IAS, your cooperative continues to pursue opportunities that add value and profitability for our members. The 80-million-gallon ethanol expansion at PLCP in Steamboat Rock, Iowa, positions us for the next step in growth — meeting rising Canadian ethanol demand through new direct-to-market shipping opportunities that strengthen returns for all IAS members.
Your investment in this cooperative matters. Recent upgrades to Combined Heat & Power (CHP) and Mechanical Vapor Recompression (MVR) technologies have significantly reduced PLCP’s carbon intensity (CI) score — improving efficiency, qualifying us for 45Z tax incentives, and positioning IAS for premium markets that reward low-carbon ethanol.
As global corn production rises, particularly in South America, this expansion helps secure stronger local demand and supports a more competitive corn basis for IAS grain customers. Thanks to years of sound fiscal management, your cooperative is uniquely positioned to grow sustainably and strategically.
The ethanol expansion — paired with low-carbon technology and access to Canadian markets — represents a major step forward in adding value, driving innovation, and strengthening our cooperative’s future. Through this investment, we’re building greater efficiency, sustainability, and market reach — fueling a cleaner, stronger future for our members and Midwest agriculture.
Why Does This Investment Matter to You?
Increased Corn Demand
Every bushel delivered to IAS supports a stronger local basis and expanded market access, helping you get the maximum ROI from every acre.
Cooperative Strength
Profits and efficiencies from PLCP flow back to IAS members, helping fund programs, patronage, and future investments.
Future Opportunity
Growth like this helps ensure the next generation of IAS members has a strong, innovative cooperative to rely on as their farms also succeed.
One Cooperative. Many Connections.
Together, your cooperative’s connected divisions — Grain, Agronomy, Feed, Energy and PLCP — create a complete system of support that helps you grow stronger, more profitable, and more resilient every season.
Grain
Your cooperative connects your grain to opportunity — from local origination and delivery advantages to marketing tools and risk management strategies that help you capture value. Every bushel you deliver supports stronger demand, better basis, and returns that flow back to you through ownership in PLCP.
Agronomy
Your cooperative partners with you to make every acre count — providing comprehensive crop solutions from soil sampling and seed selection to nutrient management, precision agronomy, and sustainability programs that maximize yield potential. With local expertise and advanced tools, your IAS agronomy team helps you make decisions that drive productivity, profitability, and long-term success.
Feed
Your cooperative supports your herd’s success with customized nutrition programs for beef, dairy, and swine — backed by on-farm expertise, trusted partners, and local manufacturing that ensures quality, consistency, and performance. From ration balancing to delivery, your IAS feed team helps you achieve healthier livestock and stronger returns.
Energy
Your cooperative keeps you moving with reliable delivery of refined fuel products and services — backed by a full-service energy team committed to powering your farm, fleet, and home with dependable local service you can count on.
Building Value That Comes Full Circle
Your cooperative’s continued investment in PLCP aligns with our long-term vision to benefit you — our member-owners — and strengthen IAS as a whole. This growth improves corn basis, creates jobs, supports local businesses, and generates additional cooperative income that flows back to you.
We’re also monitoring upcoming U.S. Department of the Treasury guidance on “Farm Smart Practices,” which could further enhance the value of low-carbon farming for our members. Together, your cooperative and PLCP are positioned to lead the way in a rapidly evolving renewable fuels market — creating opportunity and value that extend well beyond today.
Innovation That Starts Here, Benefits Everywhere.
Through your cooperative’s investment in Pine Lake Corn Processors, you’re helping keep the Midwest competitive in a global grain market. Your support drives stronger corn demand, creates stable jobs, and fuels renewed vitality in the communities we all call home — right here in the Midwest.
Together, we’re proving that when members invest in innovation, the benefits reach far beyond our fields.
Learn how IAS membership drives progress today
— and for generations to come.