About Us
Quality you can trust since 1958
Started by the French family, still run like a local family business, and backed by the buying power of a grower-owned family of companies.
Our story
65+ years in the field with valley growers
Established in 1958, Bear River Supply, Inc. has the experience that farmers can rely on.
Bear River Supply began as a partnership between brothers Howard and W.J. French and Bill Hudson. Howard became sole owner in the 1960s, and in 1972 his son, Richard French, took over and ran the business for the next two decades. In 1992 the Butte County Rice Growers Association (BUCRA) became the owner, with Richard continuing to lead the company until he retired as president in 2024 and Mike Burns stepped in. Through every chapter, Bear River Supply has been run and operated like a local, family-owned business, and it still is today.
For over 65 years, Bear River Supply has delivered dependable crop nutrients, crop protection, and full-service agronomic consulting to growers across Sutter, Yuba, Placer, Butte, Yolo, and Sacramento counties. Backed by a team of licensed Pest Control Advisers, we combine decades of hands-on orchard and rice production experience.
We are committed to protecting our clients’ crop investments while helping them stay productive and profitable in the world of agribusiness. Bear River Supply provides crop nutrients, crop protection products, and comprehensive crop-related services to customers in the agricultural industries.
Guiding our customers toward the most effective products and practices has always been, and remains, a cornerstone of our service.
Our family of companies
Local service, co-op buying power
Being part of a larger family lets us buy fertilizers and chemicals at volume discounts and pass real savings directly on to our customers.
Parent company
Butte County Rice Growers Association
BUCRA
Bear River Supply has been a wholly owned subsidiary of BUCRA since 1992.
Sister company
Big Valley Ag Services
Our sister company under BUCRA, sharing resources across the region.
Affiliate since 2016
Aligned Ag Distributors
AAD
Shared resources and a strong regional network, without losing the local, hands-on service our customers count on.
Our history
Milestones
Three generations of the French family, and a new chapter under BUCRA.
1958
A partnership begins
Brothers Howard and W.J. French, together with Bill Hudson, start Bear River Supply as a partnership.
1960s
Howard French becomes sole owner
Howard takes over full ownership of the business.
1972
The next generation
Howard’s son, Richard French, takes over, owning and operating Bear River Supply for the next twenty years.
1992
Joins the BUCRA family
The Butte County Rice Growers Association becomes the owner of Bear River Supply, with Richard French continuing to lead the company.
2016
Partnership with Aligned Ag Distributors
Shared resources and a strong regional network expand what we can offer growers.
2024
A new president
Richard French retires as president after more than 50 years with the company, and Mike Burns becomes president.
Today
Still run like a family business
Bear River Supply is still run and operated like a local, family-owned business, with licensed PCAs and Certified Crop Advisers serving growers across six-plus counties.
Where we work
Serving the Sacramento Valley
From our yard on Pleasant Grove Road, our PCAs cover orchards, rice ground, and row crops across the region.
- Sutter
- Yuba
- Placer
- Butte
- Yolo
- Sacramento
- and beyond
Our people
Meet the staff
The PCAs, Certified Crop Advisers, office, dispatch, and shop crew behind Bear River Supply.
Meet the team →