A Saskatchewan company that holds a patent on a process to measure soil nutrients has received franchise approval from the Canadian Franchise Association.
Western Ag announced July 23 that it is now a member of the association.
Membership will allow the company to sign franchise agreements with new business partners and offer its technology to more farmers in Canada and the United States.
Western Ag’s PRS Probe soil analysis system, which was developed at the University of Saskatchewan, uses small plastic probes with special membranes to measure soil nutrients.
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Software developed by the company analyzes the results and allows farmers to improve soil fertility, increase yields and maximize returns from various crops.
Kevin Dow, chief executive officer of Western Ag, said the system is well established and has been used on millions of acres of farmland in Western Canada.
CFA membership will facilitate Western Ag’s plans to expand business partnerships and deliver the technology over a larger geographic area.
“We’ve actually been working on … adding business partners to various regions across Western Canada and the northern United States for the past eight months or so,” Dow said.
“We’ve been actively seeking partners in Alberta … and then our intention is to expand into northern regions of the United States and Eastern Canada as well in the near future.”
Western Ag has agreements with three business partners, including two in Western Canada and one in North Dakota.
The company is also negotiating with other organizations that have an extensive network of agronomists in Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
Dow said agreements with those organizations are anticipated within the next few weeks.
“There will be some additional (announcements) … in the next two weeks because we are just actually closing on two other (agreements),” he said.
“With the two that we anticipate to be closing … we will have full coverage of Saskatchewan and Manitoba and central North Dakota.”
Western Ag was established in 1994 and is based at Innovation Place in Saskatoon.
The company also hopes to gain membership in the International Franchise Association, which would support efforts to expand into the United States and other global markets, Dow said.
