Agrico Canada Ltd. and Yara End Partnership
Mississauga, Ontario, July 6, 2010 - Two years after signing an agreement to enter into a partnership that saw Yara International purchase a 25 per cent in Agrico with the option to purchase the remainder of the company the end of August 2010, Yara is backing away from the deal. In a change of the direction for Yara, it is exercising a Put that wiII see the Agrico shareholders buy back their shares.

"This news, while somewhat disappointing, does not change Agrico's commitment to its customers and joint venture partners, says Agrico President R.L. (Bob) Whitelaw. "My understanding is the main reason for the cancellation of the deal is that Yara has set a new course for their core business, to be production orientated. We are satisfied this change in direction has nothing to do with what Agrico did or didn't do that led Yara to this decision."

As the two companies sever their two-year relationship, Agrico will focus on the future and continue its commitment to strengthen its relationships with members of its Crop Care network, joint venture pminers and dealer-customers.

"For Agrico, it is business as usual as we continue to work to offer excellent service, products and technology transfer to our many customers," concludes Whitelaw. While we are disappointed that Yara has chosen to change direction, it will not affect how we, at Agrico, conduct our core business and continue to maintain our excellent working relationship with Yara."

The Fertilizer Institute Announces Fertilizer 101 Initiative
The Fertilizer Insitute (TFI) recently unveiled "Fertilizer 101", a comprehensive program that offers educational information on nutrients and fertilizers, their role in crop production, environmental stewardship, etc. Please review the following press release issued by TFI for more information:

Washington, D.C., June 28, 2010 - The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) announces the launch of a “Fertilizer101” initiative, aimed at providing the people of the fertilizer industry, their allies in the agriculture community and the general public with a central source of information on fertilizers. Key components of the initiative are a Fertilizer 101 book and a corresponding fertilizer101.org website.

“World population will grow to more than 9 billion people by the year 2050 and fertilizer will be increasingly important as modern agriculture works to feed a growing world,” said TFI President Ford B. West. “We cannot allow the idea that food comes only from the supermarket to take root. It’s in this spirit that TFI developed Fertilizer 101. We hope that readers and visitors to the website will gain information that provides a better understanding of what fertilizer is and why it’s so important to our future.”

Fertilizer 101 replaces TFI’s Fertilizer Handbook, a well established industry resource for fertilizer information. As was the case with the Fertilizer Handbook, the new book and website cover the important fertilizer fundamentals including information on essential nutrients, fertilizer production and definitions of commonly used fertilizer products. In addition, the new resources contain the latest information regarding nutrients in the environment and product safety and security, including content on fertilizers and human health as well as information on nutrient stewardship by farmers and home gardeners.

Another Joint Venture for Agrico Canada Ltd.
Lindsay, Ontario, March 3, 2010 - The Lindsay, Ontario, area can boast another locally owned business. Agrico Canada Limited/Limitée entered a joint venture partnership with Matt Pecoskie, manager of the Agrico Lindsay Farm Centre, on March 1, 2010 and sees Pecoskie purchase a 50 percent stake in the business. The new company, now known as Kawartha Lakes Agri Services Ltd., is a 50/50 joint venture partnership with Agrico and will remain at its present location.

"This move continues this company’s goal of creating joint venture partnerships with all our company-owned retail centres," says Agrico President R.L. (Bob) Whitelaw. "For over 10 years Matt Pecoskie has proven himself to be a capable manager with a commitment to customer service and leading edge technology and he has earned the opportunity to have a stake in the business."

A native of the Kawartha Lakes region, Pecoskie is a graduate of the University of Guelph with a degree in Agriculture. He joined Agrico shortly after his graduation in 1997 and, except for a brief stint to try another aspect of the agricultural business, has been with the company ever since. He is active in the community with a seat on the City of Kawartha Lakes Agricultural Development Advisory Board and is a strong supporter of the Lindsay Central Exhibition and local 4-H.

"I plan to continue giving a high level of service and offering quality products to our customers," states Pecoskie. "I have every intention to change at the pace the industry changes so that we can anticipate and meet our farmers’ needs. I believe our success over the past decade has been our ability to stay current with all the latest technology and research."

The new Kawartha Lakes Agri Services Ltd. includes two branches, the main location in Lindsay and a satellite operation in Fenelon Falls. The latter operation includes a full agricultural supply store that also sells locally produced food, such as meat and cheese.

"Our experience is that locally-owned agricultural retail outlets are more successful than company- owned entities because they prove to be more in tune with local needs," adds Whitelaw. "Agrico will continue to support the Lindsay operation with agronomic and financial services."

For more information, contact:

Agrico hires Wholesale Manager
Mississauga, Ontario, January 22, 2010 - Agrico Canada Ltd./Ltée announced today the appointment of Martin Kiefer to the position of Eastern Canadian Wholesale Manager. Kiefer will begin his duties on February 1, 2010 to fill the vacancy left by Scott Furtney, who moved to the company’s Supply and Distribution position.

“Martin Kiefer has an extensive background in a variety of market segments, including agronomy, sales and recommendations in both seed and crop inputs, and management “, says Murray Martin, Agrico General Manager. “With all his experience, Martin will be a big asset to Agrico and its dealers in this position.”

Kiefer lives in Simcoe, Ontario and has over 15 years experience in the crop inputs sector of agriculture. He has a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Guelph and is a Certified Crop Advisor.

“We fully anticipate that Martin will help Agrico grow our business in sales, our volumes and expansion”, adds Agrico’s Murray Martin, who will be Kiefer’s direct supervisor.

Agrico and Northumberland Grain Joint Venture Belleville Farm Centre
Belleville, Ontario, January 4, 2010 - Agrico Canada Limited/Limitée has signed a deal that will transfer 100 per cent of its Belleville Farm Centre to joint venture partner Northumberland Grain Inc. of Brighton, Ontario. Effective January 4, 2010, Northumberland Grain will assume management of the farm centre that has been operated by Agrico since 1967.

"The addition of Agrico Belleville to the Northumberland Grain family will benefit many groups," says Northumberland Grain president Dexter Harder. "Our company welcomes the opportunity to assist farmers in southcentral Ontario to not only grow their crops but also to market them." Current customers of Agrico Belleville will have access to Northumberland Grain’s elevator and marketing services.

By merging with Northumberland Grain, Agrico Belleville will also have increased access to custom application services and the latest agronomic technology. "We know this new arrangement will benefit our growers; we can now offer a wider range of services, including the addition of grain marketing," comments Barry Cooper, who will continue as manager of the new branch of Northumberland Grain in Belleville. "The present staff is looking forward to working with Karen and Dexter Harder and expect the only visible change will be the name."

"Northumberland Grain will now have access to rail siding as well, which is going to benefit customers at all our locations," Harder adds. "There is also room to expand operations."

Agrico president R.L. (Bob) Whitelaw says the move is one more step in reaching the company’s goal of joint venturing all company owned farm centres. "We expect the transition to be seamless because Agrico’s association with Northumberland Grain is a solid working relationship with the common goal of assisting farmers to reach greater success," he adds.

Northumberland Grain was founded as a grain elevator in 1980 and underwent some shareholder changes until its present 50/50 partnership between Karen and Dexter Harder and Agrico Canada occurred in 2005. In 2007, the company acquired Hunco Farm Supplies of Cobourg and the Agrico Farm Centre in Cobourg was merged into Northumberland Grain and moved to the Hunco location. Northumberland Grain offers grain marketing services and a full line of crop input services.

For more information, contact:

Furtney appointed to S & D at Agrico
Mississauga, Ontario, November 24, 2009 - A new supply and distribution manager will be taking over his new office at Agrico Canada Ltd./Ltée effective November 27, 2009. The company announced today that Scott Furtney, Eastern Region Sales Manager, will be taking over the responsibilities of supply and distribution that entails purchasing, supplying and distributing of all fertilizer requirements for the company across Canada. In addition, Furtney will be responsible for all company-owned terminals.

“Scott is eminently suited to this position,” says Agrico president R.L. (Bob) Whitelaw. “His experience over the past two years, since joining Agrico in 2007, have shown that he has excellent knowledge of the wholesale distribution process and he has good understanding of the needs and pressures facing our dealers at critical times of the year.”

Furtney takes over the office vacated by the resignation of Dan Rivait earlier in November. During the search for a replacement for the Eastern Canada Sales Manager position, he will be fulfilling the duties of both offices. Prior to joining Agrico, Furtney spent 30 years working in the agricultural retail sector in Ontario.

“Scott has extensive knowledge of agricultural retail and this will stand him in good stead as he arranges the supply and distribution of fertilizer materials to Agrico’s many customers across Canada,” Whitelaw continues.

For more information, contact:

Robert L. Whitelaw
President
Agrico Canada Limited/Limitée
Mississauga, ON
Phone: 905-672-5700, ext. 309

New joint venture partner at Atwood Farm Supplies
Mississauga, Ontario, October 20, 2009 - Agrico Canada Limited/Limitée is pleased to announce the formation of a new joint venture partnership with Joe Tuer, the company's manager. Tuer signed the agreement to become a joint venture partner in early October.

"By coming on board as a partner with Agrico along with Ken Behrns and Kyle Coghlin, we are adding local ownership and we want the business to grow and continue to be an important part of the community," Tuer says of the partnership. "The move to one location at Donegal consolidated the staff, which added convenience for customers and makes the total operation more efficient."

Tuer has been involved in the agricultural service business since 1980, working mainly in the crop supply sector. He joined Atwood Farm Supplies as farm centre manager and has now taken the next step to partnership. He believes the partners' experience and commitment to the industry and community will help Atwood Farm Supplies to continue to grow stronger. "We plan to offer more agronomic services and we want to assist local growers to improve their crop production."

"Agrico is pleased to have Joe as a major partner in the operation," says R.L (Bob) Whitelaw, president of Agrico Canada Limited/Limitée. "Agrico has been involved as a joint venture partner at Atwood Farm Supplies for 22 years. Now, by combining our history with Joe's abilities and the move to Donegal, I have never been more optimistic about the future of Atwood Farm Supplies."

"With the current economic situation it is important for growers to have a local farm supply centre that they know and trust," continues Tuer. "Atwood Farm Supplies is part of the community and we are committed to helping our growers succeed."

Atwood Farm Supplies has a long history in the area supported for much of that time by Agrico. Originally, J.K. Baker of Ethel was an Agrico dealer introducing fertilizer to Huron and Grey counties in the early years of the 20th century. In the 1960s, Atwood was home to a bulk warehouse operated by H.J. Carmen Baker with fertilizer products provided by Agrico. Later, Jack Stone purchased the operation and the first blender was installed with Agrico supplying the fertilizer materials. When Stone retired in 1987, half his shares were purchased by Agrico and the operation has continued to be a joint venture operation with various partners to this day.

For more information, contact:

"We are endeavoring to give the local livestock industry a much needed and deserved boost," says Agrico President R.L. (Bob) Whitelaw. "The livestock industry has been plagued by numerous negative factors that has put the local industry in jeopardy, such as the BSE scare which closed down most export markets for beef and, more recently, the United States initiating 'country of origin' labeling. This has all but closed the large US export market."

On the pork side, continues Whitelaw, there is the N1H1 flu scare which, while having no connection to eating pork products, has had a large negative impact on pork sales. "Couple that with recent high grain prices and you have a very challenging agricultural business climate," he concludes.

Agrico will be sourcing its livestock and poultry from local producers and having the Butcher Block meat plant in Lindsay process and package the meat for sale at the Agrico store in Fenelon Falls.

"We will be offering frozen beef, pork, lamb and poultry cut up and packaged in five pound boxes along with Empire cheese, which is made at a factory in Campbellford," states Tracey Semple, manager of Agrico's Fenelon Falls store. "There will also be a line of condiments available. In addition, all the meat will be certified quality and competitively
priced."

An "Open House" is tentatively scheduled for July 3 and 4 with City of Kawartha Lakes Mayor Rick McGee on hand to cut the ribbon on Saturday, the 4th. Semple says a number of introductory specials will be on offer.

"With the buzz about the 100-mile Diet book by Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon and the movement to buy locally, we decided this was an opportunity to do our part to not only support local farmers but also expand the number of products we offer in the store," adds Semple.

For more information, contact:

"Wayne is a very friendly, positive, knowledgeable person who will do a good job representing Agrico, its products and programs within the Crop Care organization and our independent dealer base," says Agrico Vice-president of Operations Murray Martin.. "We also expect Wayne will develop new opportunities within that base."

Dobbie is a graduate of the University of Manitoba's Diploma in Agriculture program and is a partner in a pedigreed seed farm west of Brandon, Manitoba. His work experience to date has been in the certified seed industry where he built his skills in marketing and customer service.

"I've worked in the seed business for 15 years and now I'm very excited about expanding my knowledge and using my skills in a new industry," Dobbie comments. "I understand how things are changing at the farm gate and in agriculture and I am committed to keeping up with changes in the industry."

"Wayne is well-liked by his industry contacts," Martin continues. "We are sure our dealer network will welcome him."

Dobbie will report to Rick Rempel, Vice-president of Marketing for western Canada and he will begin calling on dealers in his territory on June 22.

For more information, contact:

Murray Martin
General Manager
Agrico Canada Limited/Limitée
Mississauga, ON
Phone: 905-672-5700, ext. 304