REGINA, Sask. – Provincial borders are dissolving for farmer co-operatives.
In a recent move, Saskatchewan Wheat Pool and United Farmers of Alberta are expanding their business relationship.
AgPro, the Sask Pool subsidiary that markets farm supplies and buys grain outside of Saskatchewan, will work with UFA to deliver non-traditional products for each company. In the Alberta communities of Lavoy, Killam, Vulcan, Crossfield, Wilson Siding and Trochu, UFA and AgPro will deliver seed, fertilizer and some smaller farm equipment, products UFA previously didn’t handle.
UFA handles a variety of farm hardware and supplies, and is a major farm fuel merchant in Alberta, with 120 petroleum outlets. Of fuel, the pool said it will remain “out of that business for now.
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“They don’t buy grain and we don’t sell fuel,” said Don Loewen, chief executive officer of Sask Pool. “”We both handle crop protection and some other products. That means we will be able to jointly improve our buying power on those items and now AgPro will be able to market a full line of products to farmers through the UFA. It also gives us access to the provincial market for our seed and fertilizer.”
Terry Semeniuk, UFA CEO, suggested the future for both organizations may involve an even tighter business arrangement than exists now.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if, at our annual meeting (mid-March), there may be some very interesting resolutions that, if approved, would see us work even more closely,” said Semeniuk.
“This year farmers will begin to see our products bundled together as packages. They will be able to buy fertilizer from us and pick it up over at AgPro. There will be lots of changes,” he said.
