Calgary, Alberta-Agrium Advanced Technologies, a division of Agrium Inc., announced on March 17 that it plans to close its controlled-release turf fertilizer facility in Alabama’s Mobile County in mid-June, citing the rising cost of raw materials. Local reports quoted Agrium Spokeswoman Lisa Parker as saying four full-time employees and five contractors will lose their jobs as a result of the closure. Originally operated as I.B. Chemical Co. by Mitsubishi Polysilicon, the plant was purchased by Canadian NuGro Corp. in 1999. NuGro was purchased by Spectrum Brands, St. Louis, Mo., in 2004, and Agrium acquired NuGro from Spectrum in 2006. Arnold Cleghorn, vice president of manufacturing, said in a statement that the decision to close the plant was difficult. It will continue operating over a period of weeks to fill customers’ immediate needs, Cleghorn said, while future orders will be filled by other companies under the Agrium umbrella. Agrium’s controlled-release fertilizer portfolio includes ESN® and Duration CR®, as well as the group of products acquired when Agrium purchased Alabama-based Pursell Technologies Inc. in 2006. These includes Polyon® polymer coated fertilizers, Trikote® polymer sulfur-coated fertilizers, and Precise® controlled release crop protection products.
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