Yara Buys Terra Industries

Norway’s Yara agreed to buy Terra Industries for $4.1 billion to create the world’s biggest mineral fertilizer producer and boost its U. S. presence, as rivals look to join forces to gain size and reach. Norway’s biggest-ever foreign takeover announcement Feb. 15 comes a month after U. S. CF Industries Holdings withdrew its year-long hostile

After Hitting Bottom, Phosphate Fertilizer Prices To Rise

While investors have been obsessed with when demand for potash will rebound, another key crop nutrient has quietly pushed into the spotlight as tight supplies ratchet up prices. Phosphate is starting to command more investor attention as production outages have limited supplies of the crop nutrient and dragged down inventories. Though the crunch might not


Potash “Oligopoly” May Crack In Longer Term

“The oligopoly’s discipline has formed the backbone for the group’s valuation.” – DAHLMAN ROSE AND CO. REPORT Amajor U. S. investment bank following the potash sector sees a “ratcheting up” in the sector’s risk profile that may suggest a possible shift in market competition in the longer term. In a recent report on its longer-term

Agrium Profit Down, But Gets Regulatory Ruling

Agrium Inc. reported a 93 per cent plunge in its quarterly profit Nov. 4, but the fertilizer maker and agricultural products retailer expects sales to rebound in 2010. Calgary, Alberta-based Agrium, which is locked in a lengthy battle to buy U. S. rival CF Industries, said the sharp decline in profit was due primarily to


In Brief… – for Oct. 29, 2009

Equipment dealer eyes Enns: Calgary’s Rocky Mountain Dealerships has signed a deal to buy Case IH dealer Enns Agri Sales Ltd. at Winkler, Man., about 110 km southwest of Winnipeg, for an undisclosed sum. The sale is expected to close on or about Nov. 1, the publicly traded buyer said Oct. 20. With Enns, Rocky

In Brief… – for May. 28, 2009

Buhler sees dip in tractor sales: The maker of Versatile tractors expects sales of its other farm equipment short lines to continue strong while tractor sales decline “for the remaining part of the year.” Winnipeg’s Buhler Industries posted net profit of $4.59 million on sales of $93.35 million in its second quarter ending March 31,


In Brief… – for Mar. 19, 2009

Bobcat, Polaris team up:North Dakota-based skid-steer maker Bobcat Co. and snowmobile and ATV maker Polaris Industries have signed on for a “long-term strategic alliance” that will ultimately lead to co-development of new equipment. “Initially, Polaris will produce and sell highly differentiated work vehicles to Bobcat for sale through the Bobcat dealer network,” Scott Wine, CEO