The acquisition expands Cargill’s network of grain and ag service businesses throughout Canada, including an integrated mix of crop inputs, grain marketing, and consulting services.
Precision Ag has 23 employees and locations in Carlyle, Carnduff, Griffin and Odessa in southeastern Saskatchewan, Canada. It was founded in 1994 and has operated as a 50/50 joint venture with Cargill for 22 years. The business offers crop nutrition, crop protection and seed, which it sells to farms representing approximately 600,000 acres. It also sells micronutrients, inoculants, short-line equipment, feed, and other services.
The company will continue to operate as Precision Ag, and there will be no changes for its employees. Its leadership team are also set to stay in their current roles for the next three years to ensure a seamless transition of the business.
“As we thought about our most strategic succession plan, we quickly agreed that selling to Cargill was the best decision given our shared values and interest in providing quality crop input services to farmers throughout Western Canada,” said Jay Gerry, Precision Ag’s general manager.
Blaine Duncan, Cargill regional commercial leader said, as a global ag leader, Cargill is strategically positioned to advance Precision Ag’s business model in the current, dynamic market conditions.
Cargill’s ag footprint in Canada
Cargill’s agricultural supply chain activities in Canada include:
- Processing, storing, and distributing grains and oilseeds for domestic and export markets.
- Providing insights and innovations in the areas of grain origination, grain marketing and crop input supplies.
It operates two canola processing facilities in Canada, a plant in Clavet, Saskatchewan is well-established as the largest soft-seed processing plant in North America, while its plant in Camrose, Alberta began production in 2015. Together, these facilities produce regular and specialty canola oils, as well as canola meal for the domestic North American and world markets.
The company’s network of grain handling facilities includes terminals and forwarding/merchandising offices in Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Montreal, together with grain and oilseed ports in Québec, Ontario, and Vancouver. It also works with partners through a number of grain-handling joint ventures across Canada.
