Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) has announced plans to construct a new $41.8-million fertilizer terminal near Grassy Lake, Alta.
The terminal will be similar to existing FCL fertilizer facilities in Brandon, Man., and Hanley, Sask.
“Specific to the crop inputs business, we’ve seen a real growth in the support coming from this marketplace,” said Patrick Bergermann, FCL’s associate vice-president of agriculture and home, during an announcement in Taber on Tuesday.
When completed, the terminal will boast a storage capacity of 34,400 metric tonnes as well as be able to ship product by truck and receive inventory by rail.
“We act as a hub that helps continuously feed and replenish retail co-ops in southern and central Alberta,” said Daniel Mulder, FCL’s fertilizer director.
“As their inventories go low, we can replenish it because we have a distribution terminal that is close to their retail assets.”
Farmers with five-axle trucks will also have the option to pick up their fertilizer directly from the terminal. FCL said it will have the ability to fill a super-B trailer with product in about six minutes.
The project is expected to create about 150 jobs during construction and when completed, will staff five full-time and two seasonal employees.
The municipal district of Taber welcomes the economic investment.
“There hasn’t been a lot of outlets for fertilizer in the last couple of years,” said Coun. Reeve Merrill Harris.
“We do have another one locally that came online a couple years ago, not as big as this one, but it provides competition and that’s always good for business.”
Construction on the fertilizer terminal is scheduled to begin this spring. The terminal is expected to be fully operational by summer 2020.
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