Cargill plans to close its grain elevator and farm service centre at Cut Knife, Sask., effective Dec. 31.
Services offered to Cargill customers at Cut Knife (about 60 km west of North Battleford) are to be transferred to three “regional” Cargill facilities: its expanded operation at North Battleford, its ag input dealership at Unity, Sask. (about 40 km south of Cut Knife) and the former Agricore United elevator and input dealership at Vermilion, Alta. (about 180 km northwest).
Cargill bought the Vermilion operation earlier this year when Agricore and Saskatchewan Wheat Pool merged as Viterra and sold a number of facilities to satisfy federal competition watchdogs.
Read Also
Interest in biological crop inputs continues to grow
It was only a few years ago that interest in alternative methods such as biologicals to boost a crop’s nutrient uptake seemed to spike in popularity. But according to Spencer Harris, senior vice-president of global ag retail for Nutrien Ag Solutions, biologicals are not all that new for Nutrien — the global ag retailer has been researching biological crop inputs for nearly two decades.
“The decision on closing Cut Knife was not easy and is in no way a reflection of the great work provided by our professional staff over the
years,” said Bert Benoit, farm service group manager for Cargill’s Twin Rivers service group, in a news release Wednesday.
Cargill said it plans to open a customer service office elsewhere in Cut Knife. Some facility staff will be transferred to other positions, while others will continue to work with area farmers, the company said.
Many of the Cut Knife site’s remaining assets and materials are expected to be “utilized,” Benoit said, and the land is expected to be available for sale at a later date.
