VIKING, Alta. — An upstart grain company is proving you don’t have to be big to survive in the grain business.
“We’ve taken a fight on here,” said George Ritchie, co-owner of Viking Grain and Livestock Marketing, during the grand opening of the company’s expanded facility.
In central Alberta, Viking Grain and Livestock Marketing has found a niche beside the Agricore and Cargill elevators located next door.
Variety of services
Viking Grain buys board grain from farmers, buys and sells non-board grain destined for feedlots, buys and sells canola bound for the west coast terminals, offers a grain marketing service and buys and sells cattle for farmers.
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“We provide a service that’s pretty unique,” said co-owner Fred Ruzicka.
Viking Grain is one of 24 companies in Canada licensed to buy grain on behalf of the Canadian Wheat Board.
Becoming a primary elevator for the wheat board in 1995 was the turning point for the company, said Ritchie. The wheat board’s stamp gave the company instant credibility.
“Being bonded and licensed is important. It adds credibility to us.”
The company was established in 1985. The original loading facility consisted of two 4,000-bushel bins and an auger that sat on land leased from CN Rail.
After several expansions, it now has 7,500 tonnes (285,000 bu) of storage with a 29-car spot on CN’s main line. It is one of two locally owned and operated primary elevators in Alberta.
With more elevators closing, Viking will soon have the only grain handling facilities along Highway 14 between Edmonton and the Saskatchewan border.
“Viking is becoming a real drawing point in central Alberta,” said Ruzicka.
CN has tossed around the idea of building a 100-car spot in Viking with the cars divided among the three companies.
Competing with the large companies is exciting, said Trent Christensen, who is in charge of grain marketing.
“It feels really good. They sometimes put the squeeze on us.”
Because Christensen buys and sells the grain, he knows if he can make a deal.
“I really like it because we’re the head office and we make all our own deals,” he said.
“I buy it and sell it and know the bottom line.”
Christensen said this gives him a feel for the grain industry.
“I think we have a lot more market know how. We take it from the farmgate to the end user.”
He says Viking Grain pioneered the idea of bypassing the elevator and shipping grain straight from farm to feedlot.
And while Christensen is busy buying grain, a half dozen farmers can sit in the office and watch a cattle auction via Heartland Livestock’s satellite link.
“It’s the same as sitting right in the ring,” said Ruzicka, a licensed livestock dealer, who looks after the order buying.
