FS continues to bring you what's next with two more large fertilizer facility expansions

Just in time for spring, FS PARTNERS recently held the official grand opening of its new high-efficiency, large-capacity fertilizer plant in Ayr, and AGRIS Co-operative unveiled its newly enhanced fertilizer blending system in Thamesville. 

The new 36,000 square foot state-of-the-art, facility in Ayr has 5,000 metric tons flat storage and is fully equipped with eight bulk bins that allow for a variety of retail blending capabilities. It can mix up to 2,000 metric tons of crop nutrient products per day, more than doubling the old capacity of 800 metric tons per day. It is the first plant in Ontario to utilize an HIM high-performance mixer (3.5 MT capacity), cutting production times significantly. The facility also has the ability (through a 20-car rail siding) located on the property, to receive product by both railcar and truck.

The Ayr facility operates as a shared asset between GROWMARK, Inc. and its retail division FS PARTNERS. The $7.2 million investment by GROWMARK will provide greater efficiencies in distribution for FS PARTNERS’ locations and for other FS area co-operatives.

In Thamesville, AGRIS Co-operative farmer-owners celebrated the official opening of their new fertilizer blending system just last week. This $2.5 million investment increases the previous blending capability to 300 MT per hour, four times faster than before and completes an overall strategy to increase capacity throughout the co-operative’s full trade territory. Over the past several years, AGRIS has brought its overall blending capacity to nearly 1,000 MT per hour across its nine blending sites. 

Congratulations to these two FS sites as they continue to grow and provide more for Ontario farmers!

Spring training in high gear for FS agronomy teams!

The 2019 growing season is just around the corner. It is a good time to reflect on all the front-end work Ontario FS crop specialists have been doing to be the best they can be in preparation for spring.

Just like any team, preparation and training is essential for success. Right after harvest, GROWMARK gets very busy in the business of education, by providing FS crop specialists with a variety of learning opportunities on everything from horticulture, custom application training, nutrient management as well as soil fertility training. 

Each one of these topics is dissected into a number of full-day training programs that give FS System employees more insight into their day-to-day operations and better prepare them for the upcoming growing season.

“Our philosophy is to utilize this time to maximize our knowledge base,” says Don McLean GROWMARK agronomy business director. “Our ongoing training gives our customers an advantage, knowing they are supported by top-notch expertise.”

The FS Certified Applicators Program recognized 26 new Certified Crop Protection applicators and 28 newly Certified Nutrient Applicators this year. A large turnout on a stormy February day just proves the value and importance these professionals bring to the FS System and to their customers.

Pulling it all together, the two-day Annual FS Agronomy Conference provided an overarching line-up of topics from all aspects of the field. “Quality speakers, attention to detail and science based knowledge makes this a very worth-while event," says Bill Brown GROWMARK field sales agronomist. "Attendance was higher than ever this year." 

FS Annual Agronomy Conference in Stratford sees record number of participants.

In the midst of all this training, add a number of trade show opportunities and outside conferences into the mix, and you have the makings of a very productive fall and winter for FS Ontario agronomy teams. Within the province there was representation at Canada's Outdoor Farm Show in Woodstock, Dairy XPO in Stratford, Forage Focus Conference in Stratford, Certified Crop Advisors Conference and most recently the Grain Farmers of Ontario March Classic in London. 

Rick Mercer, key-note speaker at Grain Farmers of Ontario March Classic Conference & Trade Show, took a moment to take a photo with FS staff and FS Mascot.

FS booth space features WHAT'S NEXT campaign taking up one full corner of the conference hall. Great turnout, great networking with customers and ag industry folks.