Richardson International Ltd., Winnipeg, Manitoba, said June 14 that between June 2010-January 2011 it will be investing C$15 million into its grain and fertilizer storage facilities in Western Canada.
“We are pleased to announce that we are proceeding with the next phase of our multi-year strategic plan to expand and advance our network of grain-handling and crop input facilities,” said Darwin Sobkow, Richardson vice president, agribusiness operations. “These improvements ensure that we will continue to provide our customers with greater capacity and dependable efficiency which, in turn, contributes positively to their farming operations.”
Stirling and Dunmore locations in Alberta will each receive 6,000 mt of new fertilizer storage capacity, as well as a 250 mt/h high-speed blender. Previously, Stirling had no fertilizer storage and Dunmore had 1,200 mt.
In Saskatchewan, grain storage capacity will be increased 14,000 mt each at Marshall, Melfort, and Whitewood. Previous grain storage at the facilities was 22,000 mt at Marshall, 16,500 mt at Melfort, and 16,500 at Whitewood.
Richardson operates 70 locations, of which 36 are ag business centers that include grain elevators with crop input sales facilities. They are all branded Richardson Pioneer and are all in Western Canada.
“Investing in the front end of our Richardson Pioneer Ag Business Centres allows us to better serve our customers’ current and longer-term needs as demand for high-quality Canadian grains and oilseeds continues to grow around the world,” said Sobkow. He said this is the latest in a series of significant investments Richardson has made to build the most efficient agribusiness pipeline in Western Canada, and that it is a part of a company-wide philosophy to invest locally and grow globally. Sobkow added that since 2008, Richardson has invested $70 million in improvements to its grain handling and crop input retail network.
Earlier this year, Richardson snapped up two ag retailers in the Peace River area of Alberta – Eco Seeds of Fairview and Total Ag Ltd. at Falher – and announced C$20 million in enhancements at ag business centers in Olds, Alberta, and Hamlin and Canora, Sask. (GM April 19, p. 14).