ADM and PYCO to combine Texas cottonseed facilities

Archer Daniels Midland Company and PYCO Industries said they will merge their cottonseed processing operations in Lubbock, Texas, through a joint venture expected to launch in the third quarter.

The deal will consolidate the two companies’ facilities under a new entity majority-owned by PYCO. Governance will be split evenly, with a six-member board comprising three representatives from each company. Financial terms weren’t disclosed.

ADM, one of the world’s largest agricultural processors, said the move reflects a broader strategy to streamline its North American operations.

“Bringing together these two cottonseed processing operations in Lubbock will allow us to continue to serve customer needs while offering opportunities for enhanced operational efficiencies,” said John Grossmann, president of ADM’s North American Ag Services and Oilseeds unit.

Lubbock-based PYCO, a farmer-owned cooperative, said the venture would support long-term stability for its members and customers. “This joint venture will help to drive a stable, sustainable foundation for our Lubbock business,” said PYCO President Robert Lacy.

Cottonseed is processed into oil for cooking and meal used in livestock feed. Texas is the largest cotton-producing state in the U.S., and the Lubbock region forms the core of the High Plains cotton industry.

The transaction is expected to close by the end of the third quarter, pending customary approvals.