Southern States Coop_Agronomy
 
CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA — Agrium Inc. on Aug. 29 signed an agreement between its Crop Production Services Ag-retail business and Southern States Cooperative, Inc., under which Agrium will acquire 20 ag-retail locations in the U.S. states of Florida and Georgia. The transaction also includes Southern States’ integrated cotton ginning business in Statesboro, Georgia, U.S.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

“Agrium remains focused on enhancing our retail distribution network in the U.S. and this acquisition will allow us to further capitalize on our existing presence in these regions,” said Chuck Magro, president and chief executive officer of Agrium. “We would like to extend a warm welcome to the Southern States Ag-retail employees and are enthused to bring the latest in technologically advanced proprietary products and precision-ag services to grower customers in the southeastern U.S.”

Jeff Stroburg, president and CEO of Southern States, added, “While we have great employees and customers in southern Georgia and northern Florida, this agreement will provide opportunity to these stakeholders and allow Southern States to optimally focus resources within our footprint to serve our members and customers more efficiently and effectively.”

Agrium Inc. is a major global producer and distributor of agricultural products, services and solutions. Agrium produces nitrogen, potash and phosphate fertilizers, and supplies key products and services directly to growers, including crop nutrients, crop protection, seed, as well as agronomic and application services.

Southern States Cooperative is a Richmond, Virginia, U.S.-based farm supply retailer and service cooperative. The cooperative provides a range of farm inputs, including fertilizer, seed, livestock feed, pet food, animal health supplies, and petroleum products, as well as other items for the farm and home. The cooperative is owned by more than 200,000 farmer-members, and serves its members and non-member customers through 1,200 retail outlets in 23 states.