TABER, Alta. — Southern Alberta has a new player in the crop inputs business.
Independent Crop Inputs officially opened its doors at a new facility just off Highway 3 west of Taber.
Owned and operated by six shareholders, the business is one of few independent crop protection and nutrition input sellers in southern Alberta, said shareholder and managing director Vaughn Penner.
“There was a recognition by producers, specifically in Taber and surrounding areas, that it would be helpful to have an independent, full service ag retailer present in the community again,” he said.
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“It’s not a new idea, but there were no longer any independents that were full service ag retailers … so this started to become … a clear opportunity.”
Taber area farmer Martin Johnson provided the 10.44 acres of land for the new facility, which includes one building that houses offices, chemical storage, seed storage and a potato lab. A separate structure contains fertilizer storage plus the blending and load-out facility.
Johnson is one of the shareholders, as are Bruce Fletcher, agronomist Hal Reed and location manager Randy Brehaut.
Construction began last year and the business officially opened July 26. The fertilizer plant has 7,350 tonnes of capacity and eight separate bins for product and a blending facility that can mix 300 tons per hour.
ICI also provides agronomy services on a limited basis with plans to increase that aspect of the business in 2018. There are six full-time employees plus seasonal staff.
Penner said full-service independent dealers are becoming a rarity in the region. Two similar businesses, in Lomond and Pincher Creek, were recently bought by larger companies.
“I think as an independent, our ethos is very much that,” said Penner.
“We are in a position to shop the entire marketplace for product both on the chemical side and on the fertilizer side. We’re not obligated to any one supplier.
“I think when products are not tied to a business, producers get a more unbiased outcome.”
