Members of co-ops in Nickerson and Sterling will vote next month on whether to merge.

The merger of the Nickerson’s Farmers Co-op and Farmers Co-op Union of Sterling requires a two-thirds vote of approval by both cooperatives. If approved, the new cooperative would be called Central Prairie Co-op.

Nickerson members will vote Sept. 9 and Sterling members will vote Sept.10.

Nickerson’s board president, Orville Miller, says both co-ops are healthy but they need to be bigger to compete and serve larger farm operations. He says the merger also would provide both co-ops with more purchasing power.

Nickerson has four elevators with a 2.3 million bushel capacity and an agronomy center. Sterling has 11 locations with 8.5 million capacity and two agronomy centers.