The U.S.-based farm co-operative CHS, Inc. has bought 16 Canadian Agrium Inc. retail sites as part of its plan to expand its business further into Canada. The deal which is scheduled to close near April 1st, includes eight sites that sell seed, chemicals, and fertilizer to famers and eight ammonia tank businesses. CHS has stated that in the future it can envision instead of a U.S. market, or a Canadian market, a North American market as the border between the two countries blurs; and it is interested in building or buying additional grain handling sites, fuel sale locations, or retail stores in the country. A fertilizer plant that CHS is building near Shelby, Montana will supply some of the Canadian outlets upon its completion this spring. CHS stepped up its interest in a Canadian expansion upon the dissolution of the Canadian Wheat Board’s monopoly in 2012.
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